'»  «T  GAUF.  UII1IARY.  1.08 


MM  .TJUIIIIU 


RALPH'S   POSSESSION. 


A  Simple  Record  of  How  It  was  Given  Him  and 
What  He  Did  With  It. 


BY  GEORGE  HOPKINS. 


Ah,  were  it  possible  to  show 
How  sweet  Thy  love  may  be  ! 
With  Thee,  however,  tears  may  flow, 
In  every  joy  with  Thee. 

From  the  Latin. 

Unto  yon,  therefore,  who  believe,  He  is  precious. 

Epistlt  o/Pttiv. 


D 


BOSTON 
LOTH HOP    COMPANY 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1873, 

BY  D.  LOTHROP  &  CO., 
In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


CONTENTS. 

Chap.  Page 

I. — RALPH  GUSHING,         ....  6 

H. — RALPH  AND  HIS   FATHER,           .          .  18 

III. — REBEKAH,                     ....  32 

IV. — FEAES  FOE  THE  MOTHER,          -          -  46 

V. — PREPARATIONS  FOR  THE  JOUENEY,  -  61 

VI. — FEIENDLY  GATHEEINGS,  -          -          -  76 

VII. — THE  DEPASTURE,    -           -          -          -  104 

vm. — COUSIN  CECILIA'S  WELCOME,  122 

IX. — FEEDERICK  JAMESON,        -          -          -  138 

X. — FIRST  LETTER  FROM  MAEIONDALE,    -  163 

(3) 


213091S 


Contents. 


194 

XH.  —  VISIT  TO  THE  ORPHANS,           • 

214 

253 

XIV.  —  HOME  CORRESPONDENCE, 

301 

XV.  —  PLEASANT  CONVERSATION,       • 

328 

XVI.  —  RETURN  HOME,                              • 

340 

TVTT.  —  nONfiLUSION.           •          •          • 

366 

RALPH'S   POSSESSION. 


CHAPTER    I. 

EALPH  GUSHING. 

;RASH!     Plunge!     Halt! 

That   was    all.      There   was    nothing 
deadly,  nothing  fearful. 

Only  a  sudden,  brief  episode ;  an  as- 
tonishment ;  an  arrest.  The  fine  carriage  that 
had  been  rolling  on  so  well  refused  to  go,  and 
refused  explanation.  Its  two  splendid  horses, 
exactly  alike,  and  totally  different,  stood  still ; 

(5) 


6  Ralph's  Possession. 

but  quiet,  handsome  William  Penn  stood  prop- 
erly surprised,  on  all-fours ;  while  the  high- 
mettled  Philip  stood  very  erect  on  his  hindermost 
parts.  But  Philip  was  soon  controlled  by  the 
young  driver,  and  shamed,  perhaps,  by  Penn's 
dignity. 

The  two  occupants  of  the  carriage,  mother 
and  son,  were  in  resemblance  and  contrast  as 
the  two  horses.  Looking  not  unlike  (the  less  so 
that  the  son  was  rather  old  of  his  age,  and  the 
mother  was  well-preserved),  —  the  mother,  see- 
ing all  safe,  was  in  no  perturbation  whatever  ; 
while  the  son,  in  all  self-possession,  was  duly 
excited  to  make  out  the  dilemma.  Having  con- 
trolled Philip,  he  fell  into  antics  himself;  for  an 
adventure  always  put  gay  Ralph  Gushing  into 
extra  spirits.  However,  here  was  his  mother  to 
be  taken  care  of;  and  his  good  heart  and  head, 
alike,  sobered  with  the  emergency. 

•  •  •  >  • 

'*  The  axletree  forward,  is  quite  broken  I  Now 
what  is  to  be  done  ?  The  town  is  only  two 


Ralph   Gushing.  7 

miles  distant.  You  cannot  walk  that,  my  poor 
niiimma  ;  but  I  might." 

"  My  dear  son  !  "  Then,  checking  herself, 
the  lady  added,  "Ah,  well !  you  have  some  good 
plan.  If  it  were  but  daylight !  " 

"  Never  mind,  mamma,  we  will  make  the 
most  of  the  moonlight.  It  may  answer  our 
need  quite  as  well." 

"  Yes.  And  how  soft!  how  perfect !  It  was 
at  full  moon  when  we  left  your  father  five  weeks 
ago.  Poor  papa !  "  The  voice  trembled,  and 
the  quick  sigh  came. 

"  Now,  mother  mine,  let  us  talk  about  the 
present  predicament."  There  was  a  slight,  a 
very  slight  sharpness  in  the  voice,  — just  a  hint 
of  impatience.  But  there  was  no  impatience  in 
the  gesture  with  which  he  stroked  her  chastened 
face,  as  he  drew  it  toward  his  own  and  kissed  it. 

"And  what  a  predicament!"  he  continued 
more  gayly.  "  We  are  in  a  predicament,  sure 
enough ;  but  Ralph  Gushing  is  not  the  man  to 
stay  here  long.  Wouldn't  you  feel  safe  on  my 
broad  shoulders  ?  " 


8  Ralph"1*  Possession. 

"Safe,  but  not  comfortable,"  replied  Mrs. 
Gushing,  with  a  quiet  humor  not  inconsistent 
with  her  gentle  nature. 

"  But  do  you  feel  comfortable  now,  and  where 
you  are  ?  " 

"  Comfortable,  but  not  safe.  I  could  pass  the 
night  in  the  carriage  very  well,  but  I  prefer  to 
be  elsewhere." 

"  How  singular ! "  said  Ralph.  "  Not  safe  in 
in  a  place  so  lonely  that  there  is  no  finding  any- 
body in  it,  and  no  getting  out  of  it !  However, 
it  would  not  be  chivalric  in  me  to  leave  you 
here,  nor  inventive  in  me  to  avoid  leaving  you 
by  staying  myself.  What  do  you  think  of  better 
than  my  shoulders  ?  " 

"  I  think  you  are  taking  it  coolly,  Ralph  my 
boy.  But  you  must  have  your  pleasant  thoughts 
always.  Oh!  my  happy  unhappy  boyl" 

*  Now,  mother,  don't  make  yourself  unhappy 
about  your  happy  boy.  Cool  ?  Oh  I  the  Amer- 
ican sang  froid  is  worth  everything.  Imagine  a 
Frenchman,  now,  in  this  case.  The  whole  affair 


Ralph  Gushing.  9 

would  be  wisely  dissected,  and  nothing  done. 
But  you  see  I,  being  an  American,  work  while  I 
talk.  Here  are  the  horses  already  unhitched,  — 
*  detached,'  Professor  Payne  would  say,  —  and 
at  your  service ;  or  one  of  them  is  at  your  ser- 
vice. Penn  is  the  safest ;  and  we'll  soon  have 
his  harness  off,  and  saddle  him  somehow." 

"  What  a  pity  it  is  that  we  had  to  leave  Zed 
yesterday  ! "  said  Mrs.  Gushing,  "  it  is  so  hard 
for  you  to  do  all  this,  besides  driving  me  all 
these  two  evenings  I  I  hope  the  poor  fellow 
is  better." 

"  Oh,  it  is  not  hard ;  it  is  easy,"  said  the 
young  man  blithely.  "  That  is,  easy  when  done 
for  you,  mamma,  I  mean." 

*'  Ralph,  you  are  making  yourself  finer  with 
every  sentence." 

"Thank  you,  my  mother,"  said  Ralph,  put- 
ting down  his  face  meekly;  "  Now  your  steed  ia 
ready ;  or,  rather,  he  is  ready  to  be  ready ;  but 
what  for  a  saddle  ?  Can  you  spare  a  shawl  ?  " 

'*  Why   yes,  —  such    a  night    as    this,  —  too 


10  Ralph's  Possession. 

lovely  to  allow  of  counting  any  inconvenience  a 
hardship.  Dear  Ralph,  how  shall  I  hold  on? 
with  a  shawl  for  a  saddle !  You  know  I  am 
not  practiced  in  riding  these  many  years.  And 
now,  neither  stirrup  nor  pommel  I  My  courage 
forsakes  me." 

But  your  faith  does  not,  mother.  You  do  not 
doubt  I  will  hold  you  on.  Now  that  is  the 
assurance  of  faith,  is  it  not  ?  " 

"  Ralph,  my  dear  son,  the  expressions  of  God's 
word  are  too  precious  for  any  light  citation." 

"  I  wounded  you,  mother  mine !  Ah,  well ! 
I  thought  you  were  fond  of  illustrations." 

"  Yes,  but  without  lightness  if  the  Word  of 
God  is  touched." 

"  Mamma,  why  did  you  say  '  precious  ?  '  why 
not  sacred,  or  something  with  an  ecclesiastical 
tone  ?  " 

"  Indeed,"  said  his  mother,  "  I  don't  know 
why.  I  did  not  weigh  the  words." 

Ralph  thought  he  knew,  but  there  was  no 
time  to  say  so.  He  had  during  this  conversation 


Ralph  Gushing.  11 

improvised  a  seat,  if  not  exactly  saddle,  that 
suited  the  emergency  excellently.  Two  large 
shawls,  each  made  into  a  compact  roll,  and  so 
strapped  together  as  to  allow  a  sufficient  space 
between  them,  were  placed  one  on  each  side  of 
Penn's  ample  back.  Between  them  a  cloak 
thickly  folded,  and  the  whole  was  secured  by  a 
little  contriving  with  girth-straps. 

"  Penn,  you  look  well,  good  fellow,"  said  the 
young  man,  quite  satisfied  with  his  achievements. 
"  Now  mamma,  you  will  sink  so  well  into  the 
cloak  that  you  can't  well  fall  off — or  fall  out,  I 
may  say.  In  the  first  place,  I  put  you  on  a 
secure  foundation.  In  the  next  place,  I  hold 
you  on  — "  He  checked  himself  suddenly,  and 
then  as  quickly  added ;  "  mamma,  I  am  not 
Might.'  But  you  are,  little  mother,"  he  said, 
taking  her  tenderly  out  of  the  carriage  and 
placing  her  softly  down  between  the  shawls — - 
"  light  as  a  feather,  I  don't  believe  Penn  knows 
you  are  on  his  back.  Now  how  will  it  go  ? 
do  you  feel  *  safe,  but  not  comfortable  '  ?  " 


12  Ralph's  Possession. 

"  Quite  comfortable,  thanks,  my  dear  Ralph. 
You  have  made  quite  a  success  with  your  con- 
trivance." 

The  valises  and  travelling  bags  were  hung 
across  Philip's  royal  back.  Penn  was  tractable 
enough  to  the  guidance  of  his  rider  ;  leaving 
Ralph  free  to  lead  Philip,  with  a  hand  for  his 
mother  if  needed. 

"  Are  you  quite  warm  with  only  your  light 
shawl?"  he  asked. 

"  Oh,  quite  warm,  my  dear  son.  These  Ten- 
nessee woods  are  so  sweet ;  and  this  is  one  of 
the  richest  sections  we  have  met.  To  think  of 
that  two-mile  walk  for  you  ;  —  why  Ralph,  what 
are  you  turning  the  corners  for  ?  " 

"  To  make  a  short  cut." 

•*  You  puzzle  me.     Please  explain." 

"  Well  mamma,  half  a  mile  is  quicker  done 
than  two  miles.  If  you  are  not  soon  sheltered  I 
fear  you  will  be  quite  sick.  That  pretty  white 
farm-house  —  or  call  it  by  some  other  name  — 
that  we  passed  a  half-mile  back,  I  ain  sure  ia 


Ralph  CusTiing.  13 

hospitably  disposed,  and  has  a  spare  room  for 
you  beside." 

"  Indeed,  I  did  not  know  we  had  passed  such 
a  house,"  said  Mrs.  Gushing. 

"  No,"  said  Ralph  "  you  were  enjoying  a  nap 
and  I  was  enjoying  the  moon-rising.  For  once 
you  were  in  dreams  while  I  was  taking  in 
realities,  my  good,  practical  mamma.  I  was 
studying  the  pretty  homestead,  and  am  satisfied 
that  there  is  a  spare  room  in  front,  on  the  west 
side." 

"  Ralph  !  Ah,  no  !  but  the  longer  way  is  a 
long  walk  for  you  ;  really,  on  every  other  ac- 
count I  would  rather  go  on  to  Cousin  Cecilia's. 
We  don't  know  what  kind  of  people  they  are  at 
this  house  you  speak  of.  Besides,  asking  so 
much  at  the  hands  of  strangers  should  be 
avoided  if  possible." 

"  I  don't  deny  you  speak  wisely,"  said  Ralph  ; 
"you  never  speak  otherwise.  But  I  fear  for 
your  strength.  And  then,  these  southern  people 
are  so  free  and  cordial,  —  or,  if  not  cordial,  mag- 


14  Ralph's  Possession. 

nificeut  in  good  manners,  socially;  let  them 
alone  politically.  But  we  are  wasting  time.  I 
have  a  strange  drawing  toward  the  strange, 
pretty  house ;  but  am  quite  equal  to  the  long 
walk." 

"  Then,  Ralph  dear,  I  decide  to  go  on  to 
Mariondale.  No  doubt  Southern  hospitality  is 
munificent ;  but  I  would  rather  not  disturb  those 
good  people  at  this  late  hour,  and  with  no  plea 
whatever  but  my  own  convenience." 

The  horses  were  turned  again.  The  son 
walked  by  the  mother,  leading  Philip,  and 
looking  manly  enough  to  lead  an  army.  The 
clear  Southern  moonlight  lent  a  wonderful  ex- 
pression to  his  marked  features,  as  well  as  to  the 
rich,  woody  landscape  that  lay  out  before  and  on 
either  hand,  in  almost  supernatural  festoonery 
beneath  the  silver  stream.  Both  parties  fell  into 
silence.  The  horses  were  good  walkers  ;  and 
the  mere  matter  of  progression,  as  thinga 
were,  kept  all  well  occupied.  Mrs.  Gushing 
spoke  first,  — 


Ralph   Cushing.  15 

"What  an  unspeakably  droll  ending  of  our 
journey,  Ralph.  You  are  taking  a  more  tre- 
mendous view  of  it,  I  dare  say." 

And,  to  tell  the  truth,  Ralph  was  wonderfully 
sensitive  about  arriving  at  Cousin  Cecilia's  in 
that  fashion  ;  and  his  gay  temperament,  always 
alive  to  the  ludicrous,  had  been  unwontedly 
sobered  by  the  responsibility  of  the  moment. 
He  was  happily  aroused  by  his  mother's  remark, 
and  for  a  few  minutes  the  air  was  ringing  with 
his  speeches  and  his  merriment.  But  this  soon 
passed;  and  when  a  silence  advertised  hia 
mother  that  his  thinking  brain  was  really  in 
more  quiet  mood,  she  said  :  — 

"  Ralph,  it  seems  to  me  that  we  cannot  divide 
the  social  from  the  political ;  at  least  not  in  our 
country." 

Ralph  looked  up  an  instant  inquisitively ; 
puzzled  at  the  abrupt  remark,  and  then  said, 
•*  Oh  I  you  have  that  criticism  for  my  express- 
ion as  to  social  manners  hereabouts.  I  think  I 
was  using  the  word  social  in  the  limited  sense 


16  Ralph* »  Possession. 

that  attaches  to  the  home  life  and  neighborly  in- 
tercourse. Domestic  Etiquette,  if  you  please ; 
but  something  more  than  that.  The  cultivation 
of,  and  appeal  to,  the  feelings,  as  well  as  the  re- 
gard for  what  is  correct  in  expression.  In  this  as- 
pect, it  strikes  me,  that  social  manners  are  more 
identified  with  the  religious  than  with  the  politi- 
cal. That  is,  religious  life,  more  than  political 
life,  affects  the  home  circle." 

**  Yes,  I  think  you  are  right,"  said  his  mother. 

"  But  you  would  not  say  that  there  is  more 
religious  life  in  the  homes  of  the  South  than  in 
those  of  the  North  ?  " 

"Perhaps  not,  —  no;  I  mean  just  this:  that 
wherever  high-toned  living  exists,  the  entrance 
of  true  religious  belief  tends  to  perfect  what 
were  otherwise  defective.  Refined  manners  are 
not  always  considerate  or  gentle.  Nothing  so 
completes  the  gentleman  in  the  way  of  refine- 
ment, as  a  heart  responsive  to  the  grace  and 
truth  of  Christ.  You  know  I  am  not  speaking 
out  of  experience ;  but  I  think  I  have  seen 
this." 


Ralph  Gushing.  17 

"  Yes,  you  are  right  again,'*  said  his  mother, 
looking  at  him  fondly,  somewhat  wonderingly, 
and  with  unwonted  yearning.  He  did  not 
notice  this,  but  fell  again  into  revery  ;  only  ask- 
ing now  and  then  if  she  was  getting  too  weary, 
or  was  keeping  warm  ;  and  once  playfully  man- 
ifesting great  anxiety  to  know  whether  she  felt 

the  more  safe,  or  the  more  comfortable. 
2 


CHAPTER  II. 

RALPH  AND  HIS  FATHER. 

|f  HE  scene  recorded  in  the  preceding  pages 
has  seemed  to  introduce  Ralph  Gushing 
and  his  mother  somewhat  to  the  reader. 
It  is  desirable  just  here  to  devote  a  few 
pages  to  previous  events  immediately  leading  to 
what  shall  follow. 

Everard  Gushing  Esq.,  Ralph's  father,  was, 
as  may  be  supposed,  a  man  of  culture  and  prop- 
erty. Educated  for  the  bar,  at  which  he  made 
a  worthy  debut ;  and  for  many  years  of  active 

commercial  habits,  which  he   entered   as  more 
(18) 


Ralph  and  his  Father.  19 

conducive  to  the  health  he  lacked.  His  rapid  suc- 
cesses, together  with  a  growing  distaste  for  the 
pursuits  of  commerce,  had  led  to  an  early  re- 
tirement. The  age  of  fifty  found  him  quite 
exempt  from  all  bodily  ailments  and  mental 
cares ;  established  exactly  to  his  mind  at  his 
fine  country-seat  among  the  highlands  of  the 
Hudson,  near  the  pretty  village  of  Apple  Downs. 
In  a  manner  the  situation  was  quite  aristocratic. 
His  small  family  and  his  numerous  household  of 
servants  were  very  properly  under  his  absolute 
sway  ;  and  his  estate  was  his  kingdom.  Horti- 
culture, a  fondness  for  all  that  is  best  in  English 
literature ;  together  with  some  business  corre- 
spondence and  the  daily  newspaper,  had  now 
filled  up  three  years  of  a  life  in  some  sense 
entitled  to  rest,  but  in  its  strength  and  largeness 
were  calculated  for  greater  pursuits.  He  was 
beloved  by  his  respected  wife,  and  regarded  with 
cold  admiration  by  his  well-provided  children. 
He  thought  himself  an  affectionate  husband  and 
father ;  for,  was  not  his  wife  his  honored  part- 


20  Ralph's  Possession. 

ner  ?  And  had  not  his  son  and  his  daughter 
the  culture  of  Cushings,  with  the  free  range  of 
the  mansion  ? 

Ralph  was  at  this  time  twenty-two  years  old. 
Leaving  college  at  twenty-one  with  no  distin- 
guished honors,  but  able  to  look  back  upon  four 
years  so  well  spent  as  to  have  endeared  intel- 
lectual pursuits.  His  estimate  of  his  own  educa- 
tion was  that  it  constituted  a  good  beginning,  — 
nothing  more;  a  successful  entrance  upon  larger 
regions  that  lay  beyond.  Hence  one  year  of 
chafing  against  his  father's  will  that  he  study 
law.  His  own  wish  was  to  study  for  a  profes- 
sorship abroad.  A  scene  in  the  home  library  a 
few  weeks  before  the  occasion  just  related  will 
give  us  the  thread  of  events  preceding,  and 
bring  us  to  our  story  again. 

•         ••••••• 

It  was  on  a  bright  morning  in  August. 
Ralph,  ever  thoughtful  for  his  mother,  had 
passed  a  troubled  night  because  of  an  unsual 
flush  on  her  cheek  the  evening  previous,  and  a 


Ralph  and  his  Father.  21 

too  evident  weariness  in  her  patient  eyes.  He 
arose  at  the  first  hint  of  dawn,  and  found  the 
heat  of  his  anxiety  really  cooled  by  the  exquisite 
freshness  inhaled  at  that  hour ;  and  his  unrested 
brain  revived  in  beholding  the  transition  from 
rosy  tint  to  golden,  that  crept  over  the  hills  as 
the  dawn  advanced,  as  if  a  shower  of  rose-leaves, 
drawn  into  one  seamless  mantle,  had  spread  over 
all  and  then  passed  sweetly,  softly,  without 
smell  or  hint  of  fire,  into  glorious,  flaming  light ; 
consuming  only  darkness,  and  blessing  all  things 
waiting  its  benediction.  Ralph  sighed  with 
pleasure,  as  under  that  benediction  himself. 
And  then  his  thoughts  rose  higher,  while  well- 
remembered  words  fell  through  his  lips:  *  Thou 
makest  the  outgoings  of  the  morning  and  the 
evening  to  rejoice.'  "  Those  words  are  good, 
but  I  only  know  them  by  heart,"  he  said  ;  "  yet 
they  seem  to  express  more  than  ever." 

And  a  half-mile  walk,  and  then  an  encounter 
with  William,  who  kept  the  lawn  clipped  and  the 
orchards  pruned,  stirred  up  new  and  kindly 


22  JtalpJis  Possession. 

thoughts  until  the  weariness  of  the  night  was 
quite  forgotten. 

He  re-entered  the  house  on  a  summons  to 
breakfast,  his  features  having  settled  into  an 
honest  determination,  as  if  some  great  thing  to 
be  achieved  rested  on  himself.  At  breakfast 
Mr.  Gushing  was  unusually  genial.  For  this 
reason  Mrs.  Gushing  was  unusually  happy, 
though  so  quietly  that  only  Ralph's  quick  dis- 
cernment noticed  it.  Ralph's  sister  Rebekah 
was  strangely  provoking,  and  Ralph  was  singu- 
larly silent.  Indeed,  the  conduct  of  everybody 
was  in  some  way  exceptional ;  and  Ralph,  sure 
of  his  father's  best  mood,  waited  his  opportuni- 
ty. Half  an  hour  after  breakfast  he  entered  the 
library  where  his  father  was  sitting,  and  waited 
for  him  to  look  up. 

"  Sit  down,  Ralph,"  said  Mr.  Gushing.  «•  You 
are  on  business,  I  see.  Any  European  schemes 
agog?" 

The  young  man  bit  his  lip,  but  noticed  the 
question  in  no  other  way ;  and  said  quietly, 


Ralph  and  his  Father.  23 

"  Father,  I  positively  think  that  mother  must  go 
South  for  the  winter,  and  go  early.  I  do  wish 
you  would  hear  me  through  and  look  at  it 
fairly." 

Mr.  Gushing  made  an  impatient  gesture. 
"  Your  mother  is  well  enough,  I  think.  She  has 
several  times  lately  told  me  that  she  feels  very 
well.  She  looked  unusually  so  this  morning.'* 

"  Oh !  "  said  Ralph,  "  mother  is  always  very 
well  when  any  one  asks  her  how  she  does. 
Yes,  she  looked  finely  this  morning ;  such  in- 
valids, who  never  will  be  invalids,  always  do,  at 
times.  But  have  you  not  noticed  how  much 
less  her  strength  is  within  a  few  months  ?  how 
quick  her  breathing  becomes  on  any  exertion  ? 
how  unrefreshed  she  is  in  the  morning  ?  how 
indifferent  her  appetite  ?  Happily,  she  has  no 
cough ;  but  I  am  sure  this  may  lead  to  that,  if 
neglected.  What  I  think  of  most  is,  her  great 
shrinking  from  cool  weather,  and  her  inability  to 
meet  it.  The  winters  have  been  a  severe  trial 
to  her  constitution  for  five  years  past,  and  the 


24  Ralph's  Possession. 

next  one  will  be  worse  borne  than  the  last, 
depend  upon  it.  She  ought  to  be  where  she  can 
have  the  open  air,  and  the  vision  of  something 
alive." 

"  Ralph,  I  knew  you  would  make  a  good 
pleader.  I  still  say  what  I  have  always  said,  that 
a  lawyer  you  will  make ;  and  that  you  are  fitted 
for  nothing  else,  unless  a  preacher,"  he  added, 
with  a  streak  of  bitter  fun  in  his  tone. 

"  No,  father,"  said  Ralph  hotly,  "  not  a  law- 
yer, nor  a  preacher.  I  have  no  more  religion 
than  you  have " 

Mr.  Gushing  started,  and  so  did  Ralph ;  for, 
stung  by  his  father's  taunt,  he  had  spoken  pre- 
cipitately, and  without  knowing  how  the  words 
would  sound. 

"  No,"  said  his  father,  with  the  self-possessed 
dignity    that   always  served   him   well.     "  No, ' 
Ralph,  or  less,  perhaps ;  for  I  believe  religion's  first 
precept  is  of  honor  to  one's  father." 

'*  Do  you  not  see  that  you  stung  me,  father  ?  " 

"  And  so  you  smote  the   wasp  1 " 


Ralph  and  his  Father.  25 

"No, —  sir!  But  overlook,  forgive.  Consider 
that  in  a  cooler  temper  I  would  not  have  spoken 
so." 

"  Well,  let  it  pass,"  said  his  father.  "  As  for 
religion,  more  or  less,  it  sets  ill  where  found ; 
so  it  is  better  missed.'* 

"  It  sets  well  where  it  inheres,"  said  Ralph, 
"  but  ill  enough  when  assumed.  Strange,  since 
it  signifies  piety  toward  God,  —  strange  that  it 
should  ever  be  assumed." 

"  Well,  now,  my  noble  son,  sharp  and  solemn 
—  the  Bar  or  the  Pulpit  ?  But  I  did  not  mean 
to  tease  you  again.  You  are  sore  to-day.  Yes, 
it  sets  well  where  it  interests,  as  with  your  moth- 
er, for  instance,"  said  Mr.  Gushing,  softening 
a  little.  "  Ralph,  it  is  well  for  you  to  care  for 
your  mother.  She  has  been  a  faultless  mother, 
as  she  has  been  an  excellent  wife.  She  has  al- 
ways graced  my  table,  and  provided  well  at  my 
entertainments,  and  had  an  eye  to  my  interests 
in  every  way.  *  By  their  fruits  ye  shall  know 
them  '  —  an  old  maxim,  proved  true." 


26  Ralph's  Possession. 

Ralph,  whose  color  had  been  coming  and 
going  under  this  dubious  eulogium  of  the  mother 
he  so  dearly  loved,  nearly  lost  his  self-possession 
here.  "Was  there  ever  an  irony  like  this?" 
he  thought ;  for  one  second,  pale  with  the  quick 
anger.  But  then,  remembering  that  his  father 
never  opened  the  book  from  which  he  had  un- 
wittingly quoted,  and  knowing  that  he  esteemed 
the  one  of  whom  he  spoke,  he  replied  collect- 
edly, "  I  should  say,  father,  that  you  have 
misapplied  the  maxim.  But  may  I  resume  the 
subject  with  which  I  began  ?  " 

*'  Oh,  Ralph,  you  bother  me  !  Your  mother  is 
quite  essential  here ;  and,  I  am  sure,  is  better 
off  at  home  than  she  can  be  away.  Besides, 
how  can  she  go  ?  Who  for  escort  ?  and  who  for 
company?  And  what  route  fair  enough  for  such 
a  very  great  invalid?" 

"  Well,  father,  the  first  thing  is  your  consent 
that  she  go.  I  dare  say  we  may  find  a  way  and 
an  escort." 

"  The  doctor  says  her  case  is  only  one  of  ner- 
vous debility,"  said  Mr.  Gushing. 


Ralph  and  his  Father.  27 

"  What  if  it  is  only  debility  ?  "  said  Ralph, 
"  she  will  be  miserable  all  winter,  and  worse  in 
the  spring,  with  a  constitution  none  the  better 
for  the  trial.  There  is  the  point." 

"  Ralph,  I  must  say  I  admire  your  concern 
for  your  mother,  though  I  think  you  overdraw 
matters.  And  how  can  your  mother  be  spared  ? 
Think  of  the  Gushing  mansion  without  Mrs. 
Gushing  I  But  see  me  again  about  this  after 
lunch,  if  you  like.  As  you  pass  through  the 
hall,  strike  two  bells;  I  want  to  see  William 
about  those  Bartletts;  they  are  looking  poorly. 
What  have  you  ahead  this  morning  ? " 

"  Flowers  for  mother,  and  Rebekah  for  com- 
pany." 

"  That  will  not  fill  up  the  morning.  What 
next?" 

Ralph  seldom  failed  to  talk  his  father  into  a 
talkative  mood.  "Rebekah's  company  has  filled 
many  a  morning,"  said  he,  willing  to  prolong  the 
scene,  for  he  saw  that  he  was  working  upon  his 
father's  better  side.  He  could  not  agree  with 


28  Ralph's  Possession. 

him  either  in  his  selfishness  or  his  prejudices ; 
but,  trained  by  his  mother's  careful  hand  and 
example,  he  felt  that  he  could  approach  them 
only  in  the  way  of  entreaty  and  filial  regard. 

"  A  gallant  speech ! "  said  Mr.  Gushing. 
"  Yes,  Rebekah  is  a  fine  girl,  —  or  woman.  Plow 
old  is  the  beauty  ? " 

Now  Rebekah  Gushing  was  not  beautiful,  — 
possessing  only  a  lady-like  figure  and  a  fine 
intellectual  face  of  great  plainness.  Ralph, 
therefore,  thought  this  too  bad.  But  he  only 
answered,  "  Twenty,  yesterday." 

"  Really  ?  "  said  his  father  ;  "  I  must  see  and 
settle  something  on  her  soon.  After  all,  Ralph, 
what  next?" 

"Blackstone,  sir." 

"What!" 

"  Blackstone,  sir." 

"  Do  I  believe  my  ears  ?  I  gee  you  are  in 
earnest.  Indeed,  you  would  not  be  a  Gushing  to 
undertake  anything  lightly.  What  has  brought 
you  to  this?" 


Ralph  and  his  Father.  29 

"I  suppose  I  may  say  mother's  counsel, 
and  —  " 

"  That  is,"  interrupted  Mr.  Gushing,  half- 
sternly,  "  that  is,  your  regard  for  your  mother, 
and  not  your  regard  for  your  father !  " 

"  I  was  about  to  add,  sir,  and  my  own  con- 
science." 

"  Ah !  then  you  confess  you  have  been  very 
wrong  this  year  past." 

Ralph  did  not  confess  that  exactly.  He  felt 
that  in  a  sense  he  had  been  in  the  right,  and 
had  been  suffering  wrong.  And  the  dull,  hope- 
less anguish  of  this  new  step,  —  as  under  the 
edge  of  his  father's  words  he  realized  it  a  step 
actually  taken, —  he  never  undertook  to  weigh  or 
estimate.  He  only  knew  that  in  his  own  expe- 
rience it  stood  unprecedented  and  alone.  Seeing 
that  his  father  waited  for  an  answer,  he  said, 
"  Only  in  part,  sir." 

"  Well,  that  is  something.  But  your  mother 
has  always  sided  with  you.  What  is  the  mean- 
ing of  this  new  development  ?  Mrs.  Gushing  is 


30  Ralph's  Possession. 

an  honest  woman,  —  a  perfectly  true  woman." 
"  Mother  has  always  been  in  sympathy  with 
my  preferences,"  said  Ralph,  "  but  never  with 
any  opposition  to  your  will." 

"I  have  no  doubt  you  are  right.  Your  mother 
has  always  trained  her  children  as  a  Christian 
should ;  that  is,  as  one  should  who  professes 
what  those  people  profess.  Well,  as  I  said, 
come  again  by-and-by.  Don't  forget  to  call  Wil- 
liam. I  commend  you  to  Rebekah  and  the 
florist;  and,  above  all,  to  Blackstone." 

Mr.  Gushing  was  possessed  of  one  of  those 
strong,  eccentric  natures  that  are  somewhat 
characterized  by  marked  contrasts.  Too  really 
noble  to  be  chargeable  with  any  meanness,  he 
was  not  so  absolutely  strong  as  to  be  free  from 
weakness  ;  nor  were  mind  and  heart  so  well  dis- 
ciplined as  to  be  truly  Catholic.  In  faot,  hia 
weak  points  numbered  several,  and  his  preju- 
dices not  less  than  two  or  three.  He  was  not 
open  to  every  kind  of  flattery,  but  he  wa.«  p 


Ralph  and  his  Father.  31 

times  flattered  by  the  most  guileless  conduct  on 
the  part  of  others.  His  authority,  the  law  of 
his  own  will,  he  above  all  things  worshipped  ; 
and  any  new  discovery  of  its  weight  and  impor- 
tance filled  him  with  inexpressible  satisfaction. 
The  only  good  that  this  ever  worked  to  any  one, 
was  in  the  quiet  glow  for  the  time  emanating 
from  it  toward  all  his  lowly  subjects.  It  was 
thus  he  found  himself  in  the  midst  of  a  kindly 
reverie  as  to  whether  Mrs.  Gushing  could  pos- 
sibly be  spared,  when  William  entered.  And 
William  thought  his  master  had  never  been  so 
gracious  before,  nor  so  easy  in  his  requisitions, 
nor  half  so  commendatory  of  the  care  exhibited 
in  the  pear  orchard,  notwithstanding  tho  poor- 
looking  Bartletts. 


CHAPTER   IIL 

EEBEKAH. 

f  IE  11  HEN  Ralph  left  the  library  he  sought 
'  Rebekah,  who  was  waiting  for  him 
impatiently,  but  well  occupied  as  usual. 
She  was  rambling  through  Cosmos  to 
find  something  satisfactory  about  meteors  ;  and, 
quite  in  despair  both  of  the  meteors  and  of 
Ralph,  she  exclaimed  on  his  entering  the  pretty 
study  and  sewing-room,  "  Ralph,  dear,  where 
have  you  been  ?  You  come  like  a  comet,  at  long 
intervals ;  but  all  unexpectedly,  like  one  of  those 
provoking  aerolites.  That  is,  nobody  can  com- 
pute your  movements,  and  nobody  knows  very 
(32) 


Jlebekah.  33 

much  about  you,  —  at  least  nobody  but  mamma 
and  I.  Dear  me  !  I  don't  believe  anybody  does 
know  what  meteors  are,  nor  what  this  August 
shower  of  fire  means.  But  you  are  a  fixed  star 
of  the  first  magnitude.  What  are  meteors, 
Ralph  ?  and  what  is  the  meaning  of  all  this  fusa 
in  the  sky  lately  ?  " 

Ralph  laughed  heartily  at  this  outburst,  and 
especially  at  the  idea  of  being  at  once  comet, 
meteor,  and  fixed  star. 

"  There !  1  knew  you  would  laugh  at  me," 
continued  Rebekah,  "you  always  do." 

"  I  always  don't,  dear  sister,  —  you  sweet,  pro- 
voking sister !  Take  that  back,  please  do !  " 

"  You  never  laugh  at  me  maliciously,  brother, 
—  only  sublimely  and  sweetly,  as  a  star  may  at 
anything  terrestrial.  But  I  am  quite  willing  to 
let  you  laugh  at  me  this  time,  if  only  to  give 
your  face  a  pleasant  expression.  You  looked  so 
unsubmissively  doleful  when  you  came  in.  I 
am  sure  you  have  not  gained  your  cause." 

"  What  cause  ?  "  asked  their  mother,  looking 


34  Ralph's  Possession. 

up  from  some  embroidery  that  was  making  haste 
to  be  ready  for  the  trousseau  of  friend  Hope- 
field's  daughter,  Faith,  who  was  to  be  married 
to  Ethelred  Summers,  Mr.  Cushing's  head  florist. 
All  the  household  knew  that  Mrs.  Gushing 
scorned  to  be  idle,  and  that  she  lost  nothing  of 
position  or  dignity  in  contributing  by  some  exer- 
tion to  the  happiness  of  every  member. 

"  Oh,  that  is  a  great  secret,  mamma,"  said 
Rebekah  and  Ralph,  in  their  haste  speaking 
together. 

"  But,"  continued  Rebekah,  "  it  is  no  secret 
that  we  are  going  down  to  the  green-house  to 
get  every  kind  of  flower  that  doesn't  make  your 
head  ache.  We  may  bring  orange-flowers,  I 
know." 

"  A  few,  very  few,  dear,  for  me,  —  and  at  a 
tolerable  distance." 

"  Then  you  don't  want  them  in  your  hair  ?  " 

"  No,"  said  her  mother,  laughing,  "  I  want 
them  before  my  eyes.  The  beauty  must  be 
seen  to  make  the  fragrance  perfect." 


Rebekah.  3b 

"  Oh,  sweet  philosopher-poet,  mamma  '  Who 
can  ever  love  you  enough  ?  Now  Ralph,  let  us 
go,  and  3rou  shall  tell  me  about  meteors." 

But  the  conversation  fell  on  other  subjects, 
just  then  all-absorbing  to  Ralph.  As  they  went 
out,  he  took  up  Rebekah's  last  words  to  their 
mother.  "  Mamma  is  more  than  philosopher,  or 
poet,  or  both,"  he  said.  "  When  she  was  read- 
ing with  us  this  morning,  and  came  upon  the 
verse,  '  Who  shall  tell  thee  words  whereby  thou 
and  all  thy  house  shall  be  saved,'  her  voice 
was  like  a  prayer,  but  a  prayer  triumphant. 
But  have  you  ever  heard  anything  read  as  she 
read  the  psalm  afterward  ?  '  Oh,  Lord  God  of 
my  salvation,  I  have  cried  day  and  night  before 
Thee.'  It  seemed  as  if  she  were  close  in  the 
audience  of  a  friend ;  only  of  one  very,  very  far 
above  —  one  that  may  be  worshipped.  I  half 
think  she  forgot  that  we  were  there.  And  I 
quite  know  that  we  have  a  wonderful  mother." 

Rebekah  was  silent,  —  half-rebuked  for  her 
own  harmless  bantering ;  in  full  sympathy  with 


36  Ralph's  Possession. 

Ralph,  and  too  nearly  tearful  to  respond.     Ralph 
continued  :  — 

"  I  have  sometimes  fancied  that  we  are  all 
safe,  all  insured  for  the  hereafter,  because  of 
mother's  faith  and  faithful  living.  But  of  course 
this  would  be  a  perversion  of  those  words, 
thou  and  all  thy  house.'  It  must  be  a  per- 
sonal matter  with  every  one.  Mother  has  some- 
thing that  I  have  not,  and  which  is  not  in  her 
gift.  You  have  the  same ;  I  don't  doubt  you 
have.  But  then  it  is  a  younger,  weaker  thing 
with  you.  You  are  less  settled  and  less  happy. 
I  am  wwsettled  and  tmhappy." 

"  Oh,  Ralph,  brother !  "  exclaimed  Rebekah 
gently,  "  You  overcome  one's  judgment,  one's 
self-possession,  with  your  tremendous  emotions. 
I  did  not  know  you  were  this  way,  though  I 
have  noticed  you  as  very  attentive  when  mamma 
reads.  I  am  glad  you  have  expressed  this. 
There  will  certainly  be  a  good  end.  And  if  I 
don't  know  very  well  how  to  help  you,  there  is 
something  very  satisfactory,  very  sweet,  in  feeling 


Rebekah.  37 

perfectly  sure  that  God  understands  your  diffi- 
culties better  than  I  can.  There  must  be  an  in- 
finite depth  of  compassion  in  His  infinite  heart." 

"  I  have  no  doubt  there  is,"  answered  Ralph. 
"But  how  do  you  know  there  will  certainly  be 
a  good  end  ?  Many  pass  through  these  storms 
only  to  strike  on  a  shoal." 

"  Rebekah  was  thoughtful  for  a  moment,  and 
then  said,  "  The  certainty  is  not  in  you,  of 
course." 

They  had  been  prolonging  their  walk  through 
the  grounds,  and  Ralph  here  remembered  that 
they  were  getting  no  nearer  the  green-houses. 
Accordingly  they  turned  down  a  short  walk 
leading  to  the  lawn,  on  the  other  side  of  which 
lay  a  slope  toward  the  south,  where  the  green- 
houses were. 

"  Orange-flowers  are  very  well,"  said  Ralph, 
*'  and  indeed  I  did  not  mean  to  speak  so  coldly. 
They  are  superb,  delicious,  exquisite,  and  all 
that  sort  of  thing.  But  I  like  them  most  of  all 
untouched,  in  their  old  habit  on  the  trees.  That 


38  Ralph's  Possession. 

way  we  get  the  white  flashing  among  the  dark 
green,  and  the  fragrance  diffused  into  finer  tone 
and  less  palling  richness.  It  is  as  if  they  filled 
all  the  space  between  sky  and  earth,  with  just 
as  much  as  one  can  well  sustain  of  the  perfec- 
tion of  perfumes." 

"  You  are  like  mamma,"  said  Rebekah  ;  "  you 
must  see  them,  and  not  too  near.  But  one  can 
have  them  in  your  chosen  way  only  at  tho 
South.  I  wonder  if  mamma  will  go  this  year  ?  " 

"  Mamma,"  said  Ralph,  "  likes  nothing  so 
completely  as  a  perfect  rose,  half-blown,  and  on 
a  single  spray.  It  may  be  pink,  or  any  shade 
of  red,  or  it  may  be  white ;  but  not  ash  or  straw 
color." 

"  White  japonicas  for  me !  "  said  Rebekah. 

"  Sister  !  "  exclaimed  Ralph,  "  you  are  twenty 
years  old,  and  I  never  knew  that  before  !  For 
once  I  sorrowfully  disagree  with  you." 

"  Why,  Ralph  ?  " 

"  Oh,  they  weary  me !  They  are  like  some 
impassive  human  flowers  that  one  sees  here  and 


Rebekah.  39 

there,  —  painfully  exquisite,  horribly  inexpres- 
sive ;  voiceless,  passionless,  soulless.  Interro- 
gate them  ;  they  yield  nothing.  A  pillar  of  salt 
were  better." 

"Ralph!  How  singular  !  Japonicas  are  uni- 
versally esteemed  to  stand  well  among  things  of 
beauty.  It  seems  to  me  they  fill  their  own  place 
there  richly,  not  inexpressively.  And  so,  for 
once,  /am  quite  glad  to  disagree  with  you.  My 
own  declaration  would  still  be  that  japonicas 
are  delightful.  So  clear  and  strong  on  their 
stem,  —  no  suggestion  either  of  weakness  or  of 
self-consciousness  or  assumption.  But  the  idea 
of  bringing  metaphysical  analysis  to  bear  on 
flowers!  Ralph,  you  are  spoiling  me!  But 
no  !  "  she  said  quickly,  catching  a  kiss,  "  no  I 
I  did  not  mean  that.  You  help  me.  Never- 
theless, I  like  japonicas,  the  white  especially. 
Brilliancy  and  fragrance  are  only  qualities,  and 
give  their  own  expression  in  their  own  place." 

"  I  believe,"  said  Ralph,  "  that  the  rose  and 
the  lily  are  the  only  flowers  mentioned  in  the 
Bible." 


40  Ralph's  Possession. 

"  I  never  thought  of  that,"  said  Rebekah. 
"  I  suppose  they  characterized  the  fields  and  hill- 
sides of  that  country  where  the  Bible  was  writ- 
ten. '  Shall  He  not  much  more  clothe  you,  O 
ye  of  little  faith  ?  '  How  sweet,  oh,  how  sweet 
that  is !  Better  than  our  analysis.  We  get 
some  truths  mingled  in  with  our  philosophies. 
But  that  loving  One  of  Bethlehem,  and  Galilee, 
and  Bethany;  of  Gethsemane  and  Olivet, — gave 
us  the  truth;  and  is  the  Truth." 

And  Ralph  said  "  Yes,"  as  one  dreaming,  not 
knowing  what  he  said.  It  was  a  "  yes "  in 
which  there  was  neither  confession  nor  assent. 

They  found  Ethelred  busy  as  ever  among  the 
forest  of  flowers  and  exotic  green  in  the  apart- 
ment devoted  to  tropical  plants.  Hotter  than 
ever,  Rebekah  thought  it,  almost  drenching  as  it 
was  with  the  sweet  earthy  vapor  that  held  in 
itself  a  mingling  of  all  choice  odors.  But  every- 
thing looked  so  well  arranged  and  so  perfectly 
thriving,  so  luxuriantly  happy,  that  she  could 


Rebekah.  41 

not  help  complimenting  Ethelred  on  his  skill  and 
diligence.  "  It  is  wonderful  how  much  there  is 
co  do,  and  how  well  you  do  it,  Ethel.  You  are 
always  busy,  and  always  in  good  order.  Oh, 
Ethel  !  my  mother  says  that  you  shall  have 
plenty  of  flowers  for  the  wedding.  And  you 
must  get  some  pots  ready,  besides,  with  what 
Faith  will  best  like  to  have  in  the  cottage  win- 
dow." 

"  Thank  you,  mum"  said  the  young  Scotch- 
man, his  fine,  honest  face  lighting  up  with  a 
satisfied  and  grateful  pleasure.  "Mistress  Gush- 
ing never  forgets  any  one.  Is  my  lady  well 
this  morning  ? ''' 

"  Oh,  we  hope  she  is  pretty  well,  Ethel.  This 
is  too  warm  for  me,  and  I  don't  find  what 
I  want  most.  So,  Ralph,  I  am  going  to  the 
warm  regions  of  the  temperate  zone.  You  can 
find  me,  I  dare  say,  when  you  have  enough 
of  this." 

Ralph  said,  "  Yes,  presently,"  and  fell  upon 
Ethelred  with  such  a  volley  of  questions  about 


42  Ralph's  Possession. 

all  manner  of  plants  and  shrubs,  and  trees,  too, 
for  that  matter,  that  the  good  fellow  resigned 
all  other  employment  to  give  the  desired  in- 
formation. With  all  Ralph's  delight  in  flowers, 
botany  had  never  been  a  favorite  study  with 
him,  and  plain  Ethelred  had  always  seemed  to 
him  marvellous  with  his  long,  unpronounceable 
names  for  everything.  Satisfied  at  length,  for 
the  time,  but  still  in  an  inquisitive  vein,  he  sud- 
denly asked,  "Ethel,  how  came  a  sturdy  Scot 
like  you  by  a  name  all  Saxon  ?  " 

The  florist,  who  was  ill  at  ease  outside  the 
element  of  his  special  .calling,  looked  puzzled  ; 
and  Ralph  relieved  him  by  saying  pleasantly, 
"  The  kings  Ethelred  were  good  fellows,  I  dare 
Bay,  and  there  is  reason  enough  that  you  be  their 
namesake.  Quite  likely  Faith  can  tell  you  about 
them.  If  she  is  as  good  at  housekeeping  as  you 
are  at  flower-tending,  the  cottage  will  be  a  royal 
cottage,  —  I  venture  as  good  as  the  first  Ethel- 
reel's  palace." 

All  this  time  Ethel  was  cutting  flowers  here 


Eebekah.  43 

and  there,  as  Ralph  pointed  out.  His  respectful, 
intelligent  look  met  Ralph's  clear  eyes,  as  he 
said :  "  Mr.  Ralph,  the  sunlight,  and  heat,  and 
moisture,  reaching  the  lily-principle  or  rose- 
principle,  or  whatever  may  be  in  seed,  or  cut- 
ting, or  bulb,  bring  into  action  what  God  has 
stored  up  there  ;  and,  as  the  parson  at  the  kirk 
would  say,  '  develop  the  divine  ideas  of  life 
and  beauty.*  Of  course,  sir,  we  find  our  honest 
labors  prospered  ;  that  is  part  of  the  ordering. 
But  every  day  I  find  the  happy  thought  that  it's 
not  me  that  makes  all  these  things  to  flourish. 
It's  only  Him.  And  His  name's  wonderful." 

Ralph  remembered  the  other  words,  —  "Coun- 
sellor, the  Mighty  God,  the  Everlasting  Father, 
the  Prince  of  Peace."  And,  as  he  answered 
kindly,  "  You  are  quite  right,  Ethel,"  he  found 
himself  wondering  if  those  names  standing  in 
prophecy  really  pointed  to  Jesus ;  and  how  any 
one  could  be  sure  of  it.  And  then  he  thought 
with  himself  further :  "  The  person  who  ap- 
peared to  Manoah  in  the  field  had  the  same 


44  Ralph's  Possession. 

name.  Could  it  be  that  this  one  and  the  one 
who  afterward,  as  St.  John  says,  'was  made 
flesh  and  dwelt  among  us,'  was  the  same  per- 
son ?  And  then,  who  is  the  person  ?  Paul's 
tone  is  that  of  conviction,  actual  knowledge, 
when  he  declares  that  the  Rock  of  Israel,  in 
their  wilderness  days,  was  Christ." 

Such  thoughts  were  not  unusual  with  Ralph, 
and  they  were  nowise  hindered,  but  rather 
strengthened  by  the  enjoyment  of  the  hour. 
He  was  nearly  ready  to  express  them  to  Ethel, 
and  to  ask  his  views,  when  Rebekah  appeared 
with  a  playful  rebuke  for  leaving  her  alone  so 
long.  And,  bidding  Ethel  be  sure  to  let  them 
know  as  soon  as  the  day  was  fixed,  she  carried 
Ralph  off  without  ceremony,  "  because  mamma 
was  certainly  weary  with  embroidery,  and  with 
waiting  for  them." 

"  Ralph  dear,"  she  said,  as  they  entered  the 
house,  "  I  am  not  sure  that  I  am  less  settled  or 
less  happy  than  mamma.  Religious  life  is  cer- 
tainly, as  you  suppose,  a  younger  and  a  weaker 


Rebekah. 


45 


thing  with  me,  and  far  more  lacking.  This  must 
be  because  there  has  been  less  personal  acquaint- 
ance with  the  Saviour,  both  in  converse  and  in 
suffering.  But  I  am  quite  settled  as  to  who 
Jesus  is,  and  what  He  has  done  for  me.  The 
home-nest  is  there,  you  know ;  the  happiness  is 
there." 


CHAPTER   IV. 

FEAKS  FOB  THE   MOTHER. 

(ALPH  went  oft  by  himself  to  read 
Blackstone,  and  Rebekah  to  "  embroider 
mamma,"  as  she  called  the  adorning  of 
her  mother's  person  and  apartment  with 
flowers.  The  morning  passed  off  busily  with 
all,  and  the  lunch  pleasantly.  Mr.  Gushing  was 
remarkably  silent,  for  his  habit  at  table  was 
conversational,  or,  if  we  must  be  accurate,  dic- 
tatorial. He  was  fond  of  hearing  himself  talk ; 
and,  it  must  be  allowed  that  he  was  generally 
entertaining  to  others.  On  this  occasion  he  was, 

as  sometimes  happened,  so  indisposed  to  speak 
(40) 


Fears  for  the  Mother.  41 

that  others  could  be  heard  without  interruption. 
To-day  he  was  grave  and  genial  by  turns,  un- 
usually responsive  to  Mrs.  Cushing's  remarks, 
and,  in  fact,  seemed  to  take  pleasure  in  listening 
to  others  rather  than  himself. 

As  was  customary  for  the  first  hour  after 
lunch,  all  withdrew  to  the  library.  Mr.  Gush- 
ing placed  himself  for  his  usual  nap  on  the  old, 
high-backed  lounge,  lulled  by  Rebekah's  voice 
reading  to  him  selections  from  the  Iliad.  Ralph 
said  the  mother  must  have  a  nap  by  all  means. 
But  the  mother,  as  usual,  "  did  not  need  it  at 
all."  She  would  take  her  sewing,  and  talk  with 
Ralph,  and  they  could  listen  to  Rebekah  at  the 
same  time. 

"  Now  mamma,"  said  Ralph,  "  if  you  can  sew, 
and  converse,  and  listen  to  reading  all  at  one 
time,  there  must  be  something  the  matter  with 
you ;  your  faculties  are  abnormally  elevated. 
The  homoeopathic  dictation  would  be  mesmer- 
ism, if  maxims  be  followed.  Now  that  you  are 
well  placed  in  the  big  chair,  I  shall  stroke  your 


48  Ralph's  Possession. 

aair  awhile,  and  you  shall  talk  to  me,  but  neither 
sew  nor  listen  to  reading.  Those  Greek  fables 
are  so  tiresome  !  " 

"  Ralph,  my  scholarly  Ralph !  where  is  your 
classic  taste  ?  " 

"  Oh,  it  is  the  ideal  that  is  classic,  not  the 
real.  It  is  the  imaginative  language  —  the 
Homeric  diction,  at  once  stalwart  and  graceful 
—  the  sustained  energy  of  the  whole  as  a  poem, 
that  gives  beauty  to  the  narrative.  Strip  the 
story  bare  of  all  that  is  Homeric,  and  you  have 
left  a  very  ugly  series  of  bloody  wars  and  coarse 
adventures  hardly  good  to  read  of.  The  only 
benefit  the  world  has  received  from  the  Iliad  is 
its  contribution  to  language.  The  same  seems 
to  me  true  of  all  the  heathen  classics,  —  at  least 
measurably  so.  They  have  enriched  vastly  the 
linguistic  fertility  and  taste  of  modern  times,  — 
real  thought  and  historic  lore  in  a  less  degree." 

"  Well,  Ralph,  quite  likely  you  are  right," 
eaid  his  mother ;  "  I  never  did  see  that  the  moral 
tone  is  elevated  or  the  heart  enriched  by  any- 


Fears  for  the  Mother.  49 

thing  in  heathen  literature.  Yet  the  mere 
knowledge  of  language,  and  the  mental  disci- 
pline acquired  in  putting  good  Greek  or  Latin 
into  good  English,  must  have  done  the  race, 
intellectually,  a  vast  service." 

"  Yes,"  said  Ralph,  "  I  suppose  anything  that 
tends  to  develop  the  individual  and  enlarge  his 
usefulness,  must  be  to  the  glory  of  God.  But, 
if  our  developed  faculties  worship  themselves, 
or  are  spoiled  by  their  own  philosophy  — " 
He  paused  and  left  the  sentence  unfinished,  not 
wishing  to  start  a  conversation  that  might  dis- 
turb his  mother.  Presently  he  added  :  "  And 
then,  so  far  as  we  can  see,  if  there  had  been 
no  Alexandria,  no  Italy,  no  Art,  and  a  loss  to 
science  beside." 

"  You  have  all  those  historic  links  in  man's 
progress  far  more  accurately  in  your  mind  than 
I  have,"  said  his  mother,  "  and  no  doubt  you 
could  make  a  strong  case.  My  own  first  thought 
would  be  that  that  which  more  than  anything 
else  has  originated  action  as  well  as  thought. 


60  Ralph's  Possession. 

tending  to  man's  present  elevation,  is  the  human 
life  of  Christ,  and  His  living  Gospel.  Bat  God 
has  built  the  whole  present,  or  the  whole  past. 
Every  bit  of  the  under-structure  has  its  value." 

Ralph  was  silent  so  long  that  his  mother  at 
length  asked  him  how  he  had  gotten  on  with 
his  law-reading. 

"Shall  I  say  just  what  I  want  to  say?" 
asked  Ralph. 

"  Why,  yes,  T  suppose  so,"  said  his  mother, 
opening  her  eyes  that  were  really  growing  sleepy 
under  Ralph's  persistent  stroking. 

"  Well,  then,  I  hate  it !  "  said  he  reluctantly. 

"  What !  The  Trojans  are  coming,  Cassan- 
dra 1  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Gushing  starting  up,  and 
then,  more  ashamed  than  sleepy,  lapsing  into 
his  nap  again. 

Ralph's  manoeuvre  was  so  successful  that  his 
mother  was  soon  asleep  also,  and  Rebekah,  who 
had  ceased  reading,  beckoned  him  to  come  over 
to  her  corner.  She  had  yet  had  nothing  from 
him  as  to  the  conversation  with  his  father  in  the 


Fears  for  the  Mother.  51 

morning,  and  was  impatient  to  hear  about  it 
They  withdrew  to  the  verandah  to  avoid  all  the 
risk  of  being  overheard.  For  although  there 
was  nothing  in  principle  to  conceal,  and  they 
were  never  disposed  to  secrecy  towards  their 
parents,  yet  the  time  seemed  not  yet  ripe  for 
broaching  the  subject  with  the  family  assembled. 
Ralph  rehearsed  as  much  as  was  expedient  of 
the  morning's  conversation,  and  each  thought 
that  their  father  had  been  remarkably  forbear- 
ing. They  felt  sure,  also,  that  if  he  could  only 
be  convinced  of  the  advisability  of  the  proposed 
step,  he  would  coincide  in  everything. 

"  But  I  do  think,  Ralph,"  said  his  sister,  "  that 
your  plan  of  sending  me  with  mamma  is  not  the 
best  one,  nor  even  a  good  one.  Papa  must  have 
somebody  to  fill  mamma's  place,  as  far  as  that  is 
possible,  —  to  look  over  his  linen,  to  preside  at 
table,  to  look  after  Jane  and  Joan  in  a  hundred 
matters,  and  all  that.  After  a  few  weeks  there 
will  be  very  little  company  at  Apple  Downs 
until  June ;  but  think  of  any  friend  coming  to 


62  RalpJis  Possession. 

pass  day  or  evening,  arid  no  lady  in  the  house  I 
We  must  not  forget  father  while  we  consider 
mother." 

Ralph  saw  the  truth  and  right  of  all  this,  but 
felt  that  the  mother  needed  Rebekah  more,  say- 
ing, "  And  papa  could  be  a  good  deal  in  the 
city ;  and  when  at  home  would  do  very  well 
with  me.1' 

"  Oh,  Ralph,  dear,  do  you  not  see  it  wouldn't 
do  ?  You  are  the  one  to  go  with  mamma,  and 
I,  if  either,  can  keep  papa's  house.  The  house 
must  be  kept,  you  know.  Whatever  plans  papa 
may  make,  he  never  will  plan  to  be  of  the 
party  himself.  He  dislikes  the  South,  and  de- 
tests travelling." 

Rebekah  always  gave  good  reasons,  and  gave 
thorn  honestly.  Sometimes  (and  wisely  enough) 
she  did  not  give  them  all,  unless  they  were 
asked.  In  this  instance,  she  felt  very  strongly 
that  Ralph  would  have  more  than  his  usual  need 
of  their  mother's  presence,  and  influence,  at  this 
juncture  of  his  life  ;  and  also,  that  the  respoD- 


Fears  for  the  Mother.  63 

sibility  of  oaring  for  her  would  be  good  for  him. 
Ralph,  however,  asked  for  no  further  reasons. 
He  only  said,  "  We  are  talking  as  if  mamma'a 
going  were  decided  upon.  Do  you  really  think 
father  will  come  to  it?" 

"  Oh,  I  think  so,"  said  Rebekah.  "  Papa 
likes  to  do  the  proper  thing.  But  don't  say  or 
do  anything  imprudent,  Ralph." 

"  Rebekah !  "  said  their  father,  appearing  on 
the  verandah  at  that  moment,  and  catching  the 
last  words,  "  if  the  round  world  were  as  prudent 
as  you  are,  every  year  would  be  a  cycle.  If  the 
human  kind  never  did  anything  at  a  venture, 
there  would  be  few  great  things  done.  What 
are  you  berating  Ralph  for  ?  " 

Ralph  drew  back  somewhat  at  this  sudden 
outburst,  but  Rebekah  answered  quietly,  and 
with  a  sweet  frankness  that  characterized  her  so 
well,  "  Ah,  papa !  if  you  couldn't  *  berate '  your 
perverse  daughter  for  her  prudence,  now  and 
then,  you  would  miss  of  a  very  healthful  ex- 
citement. It  is  good  for  you  to  scold  me,  papa, 


54  Ralph's  Possession. 

—  you  always  kiss  me  afterward.  Since  Ralph 
has  been  telling  me  of  his  conversation  with 
you  this  morning,  I  suppose  I  may  explain  that 
I  was  begging  him  to  say  nothing  imprudently  ; 
that  is,  nothing  that  could  in  any  way  disturb 
you.  I  think  he  feels  with  me  that  he  has  said 
all  he  can  fitly  say,  and  that  nothing  more  can 
be  said  except  by  you." 

"  Only,"  said  Ralph,  "  by  your  permission, 
father,  I  was  to  introduce  the  subject  again  this 
afternoon." 

"  You  or  I  were  to  introduce  it,"  said  Mr. 
Gushing.  "I  said,  'see  me  again  on  the  sub- 
ject/ Well,  let  us  all  see  each  other  about  it. 
Come  in,  you  two  young  ones !  " 

Ralph's  heart  leaped  with  such  a  bound  that 
he  happily  did  not  hear  the  last  two  words,  for 
they  would  have  nettled  him  sorely.  "  What 
can  have  inclined  father  so  soon  toward  this  ?  " 
he  thought.  "  Is  it  possible  that  miserable  Law 
can  have  worked  such  a  benefit  ?  " 

Their  mother  had  resumed  her  sewing,  and, 


Fears  for  the  Mother.  55 

all  unconscious  of  being  waited  on  by  a  dep- 
utation, greeted  them  with  her  usual  quiet 
pleasantry.  "  Well,  children,  is  father  bringing 
you  in,  or  are  you  bringing  him  in  ?  " 

The  conversation  that  followed  was  long  and 
animated.  The  mother  was  at  first  unable  to 
comprehend  that  the  whole  family  were  enlisted 
in  a  plan  for  wintering  her  at  the  South,  before 
she  was  even  aware  of  a  thought  in  that  direc- 
tion. Mr.  Cushing's  dictation  was  less  violent 
and  more  kindly  than  usual,  but  still  in  suffi- 
cient keeping  with  his  general  habit  to  make 
the  others  feel  sure  they  were  not  dreaming. 
Her  own  acquiescence  was  the  only  point  now 
to  be  gained,  and  it  is  not  strange  that  she  was 
less  submissive  than  her  wont ;  for  how  could 
she  be  so  victimized  by  kindness  as  to  be  dis- 
turbed out  of  her  loved  and  quiet  home  ? 

"  But  you  are  not  the  victim  of  anybody's 
kindness,  mamma,"  said  Raipb..  *  Only  be  the 
loyal  subject  of  expediency.  Do  the  pruaent 
thing,  so  that  you  may  have  t?"  tbetter  health,  — 


56  Ralph's  Possession. 

possibly  confirmed  health, —  for  the  next  winter 
at  home." 

Ralph  got  himself  laughed  at  by  all  for  this 
prudent  speech.  Mrs.  Gushing,  who  had  never 
been  away  from  home  and  family  except  for  her 
annual  visit  of  a  few  weeks  to  her  own  mother 
in  New  England,  felt  very  strongly  that  she 
could  not  go  away.  Since  her  mother's  death, 
and  their  own  removal  from  somewhat  fashion- 
able life  in  New  York  to  their  country  home, 
she  had  indulged  to  the  full  her  strong  attach- 
ment to  the  simple  routine  of  domestic  life  and 
neighborly  visitation,  giving  only  a  few  enter- 
tainments to  Mr.  Cushing's  city  friends,  and 
other  visitors  during  the  summer ;  and  one  or 
two  of  a  plainer  sort  iu  the  winter  to  their  imme- 
diate neighbors.  She  had  fondly  thought  that 
here  she  should  abide  undisturbed.  The  twen- 
ty-five years  of  her  married  life  had  been  fully 
assured  of  her  husband's  honest-hearted  esteem, 
and  of  the  value  in  which  he  held  her  presence ; 
notwithstanding  the  habitual  lack  of  that  con- 


Fears  for  the  Mother.  67 

siderateness  which  she  had  always  sought  and 
always  missed.  She  was  thus  quite  sure  t*>f»t  it 
was  at  a  kind  of  self-sacrifice  that  he  was  now 
propounding  a  scheme  for  her  relief  from  the 
fatigue  of  home  cares  and  the  trial  of  a  northern 
winter.  And  indeed  it  was  so.  He  was  quite 
sure  the  house  would  go  to  ruin  without  her. 
But  his  finer  traits  had  been  somewhat  aroused, 
and  he  based  his  proposition  on  the  ground  that, 
although  he  had  not  noticed  the  recent  decline 
in  her  strength,  yet  he  did  remember  that  she 
was  ill  two  or  three  times  the  last  winter  and  the 
winter  preceding,  and  how  Doctor  Saywell  had 
suggested  that  her  constitution  was  ill-adapted 
to  the  winter  climate  of  the  North  and  East. 
"  Go  South,  and  go  Westward,"  he  said.  And 
though  Mrs.  Gushing  had  been  apparently  so 
well  all  the  last  five  months,  yet  certainly  she 
was  not  in  as  good  flesh  as  in  the  beginning  of 
the  autumn  a  year  ago.  It  would  be  better  to 
take  matters  in  season.  The  coming  winter 
might  make  greater  inroads  on  her  health  than 
the  last. 


58  Ralph's  Possession. 

Mrs.  Gushing  begged  that  the  subject  might 
be  laid  aside,  and  canvassed  again  after  a  little 
reflection. 

At  breakfast  next  morning,  the  discussion  was 
resumed.  Southward  and  westward,  Ralph 
said,  would  suit  exactly,  for  there  were  cousins 
in  Ohio,  cousins  in  Tennessee,  and  cousins  in 
Louisiana.  They  could  easily  cross  Kentucky 
aud  Mississippi  without  cousining.  There  was 
no  way  of  making  a  long  journey  pleasantly, 
except  by  stages;  and  his  mamma's  cousin 
Cecilia  had  repeatedly  urged  her  to  give  them  a 
good  long  visit. 

"  Ralph,"  said  his  father,  "  you  are  a  true 
Gushing,  and  your  idea  only  needs  elaboration 
to  make  it  practical.  You  dislike  to  travel  by 
railway,  Helen,"  he  said,  addressing  his  wife ; 
"and  my  thought  is,  that  keeping  Ralph  for 
company  as  was  planned  yesterday,  you  make 
the  most  of  your  opportunities,  and  travel  in 
the  very  easiest  and  most  beneficial  way,  that  is, 
in  our  own  carriage.  Zedekiah  and  the  horses 


Fears  for  the  Mother.  59 

are  very  little  needed  at  home  in  the  winter ; 
and  for  the  autumn,  William  can  turn  groom, 
and  the  gray  colt  will  have  the  chance  to  prove 
his  qualities.  This  will  give  you  the  additional 
advantage  of  your  private  carriage  for  your 
own,  and  your  friends'  convenience  during  your 
visits.  But  such  a  plan  would  necessitate  start- 
ing soon,  and  proceeding  slowly." 

Ilebekah  clapped  her  hands  at  this  delightful 
arrangement.  Mr.  Gushing  was  constitutionally 
disposed  to  do  a  thing  handsomely  if  he  did  it 
at  all ;  and  in  a  way  somewhat  original  and 
striking.  In  this  instance,  it  was  in  a  way  very 
agreeable  to  all  concerned.  Mrs.  Gushing 
acknowledged  that  she  should  enjoy  travelling  in 
that  way,  and  that  it  would  be  pleasant  to  visit 
Cecilia  Stanley.  She  suggested,  however,  that 
Doctor  Say  well  be  spoken  to.  It  seemed  a  very 
serious  undertaking  to  leave  home  for  so  long  a 
time,  and  so  soon,  but  if  he  considered  it  of  any 
importance,  she  would  make  up  her  mind  to  it, 
and  to  all  the  enjoyment  of  it. 


60  Ralph's  Possession. 

Ralph  declared  that  if  his  father  pleased,  no- 
body but  he  should  ask  the  doctor  to  call. 
"  Then  we  will  write  to  all  the  cousins,  and  be 
ready  to  start  as  soon  as  we  get  replies,"  he 
said. 

"  Be  sure  you  take  plenty  of  law-books,"  said 
his  father  quizzically. 

"  My  poor  sister !  will  not  you  have  a  hard 
time,  though  ?  "  said  Ralph,  as  they  passed 
through  the  hall  together 

"  Oh  no,  Ralph,  never  fear,"  she  answered. 
"  It  will  be  so  strengthening  and  joy-giving  to 
think  of  sweet  little  mother  having  a  good  time 
all  the  time,  and  of  your  being  less  provoked  and 
more  happy,  as  you  always  are  with  her.  I 
expect  papa  to  be  quite  in  love  with  my  pres- 
idency." 

"  Did  you  mean  '  more  happy'  or  more  sub- 
missive? "  he  asked  half  bitterly. 

"  Submission  brings  happiness,  when  it  is  a 
right  submission,"  she  answered,  as  they  entered 
their  mother's  room  for  the  reading. 


CHAPTER  V. 

PREPARATIONS  FOR  THE  JOURNEY. 

.OCTER  SAYWELL  called  duly,  and 
reiterated  his  former  suggestion  with 
additional  emphasis.  Mrs.  Gushing-  had 
certainly  lost  ground  since  he  last  saw 
her,  and  would  almost  certainly  not  endure  the 
coming  winter  as  well  as  the  last.  He  said 
exactly  enough  in  that  direction ;  and  then  all 
manner  of  frank,  honest,  kindly  things  in  praise 
of  the  journey  and  of  the  method  chosen ;  and 
in  the  way  of  encouragement  that  the  winter 

would  thus  be  passed  without  drawbacks,  and 

(61) 


62  Ralph's  Possession. 

that  another  year  might  find  her  quite  able  — • 
or,  at  least,  much  better  able  —  to  remain  at 
home.  And  as  he  took  leave,  with  his  cheery 
laugh,  cautioning  against  too  long  daily  stages, 
and  against  driving  after  sun-down  except  on 
warm  evenings  and  guarded  by  quinine,  Mrs. 
dishing  felt  quite  fortified  for  the  undertaking. 

The  letters  were  written,  and  the  various  pre- 
parations entered  upon  step  by  step.  Jane  the 
cook,  and  her  sister  Joan  the  housemaid,  arid 
William's  wife  Margaret  the  laundress,  were 
loud  in  their  lamentations  that  Mistress  Gushing 
should  leave  them  for  so  long.  "  And  what 
would  master  do  ?  and  that  sweet  young  thing, 
Miss  Rebekah  ?  "  —  Margaret  could  not  bear  to 
think  that  her  bairns  might  be  sick,  and  Mrs. 
Gushing  away  — "  she  was  always  so  good  in 
sickness,  and  so  kind-like  at  all  times."  Indeed, 
Zedekiah  the  coachman,  or  '  Zed '  as  he  was 
pleased  to  be  called,  was  the  only  member  of  tho 
domestic  retinue  who  seemed  perfectly  delighted 
at  the  arrangement.  It  would  be  a  wonderful 


Preparations  for  tht  fourney.  68 

thing  to  see  so  much  of  the  countiy ;  and  he  re- 
garded it  in  the  light  of  a  promotion  that  he 
should  be  entrusted  with  the  driving  of  freight 
BO  precious  and  honorable,  and  through  so  many 
dangers  as  they  must  encounter  in  all  those 
hundreds  of  miles.  He  would  be  sine  to  have 
Penn  and  Philip  in  extraordinarily  fine  order  for 
the  start  —  "  and  wouldn't  they  look  well,  en- 
tering strange  towns  with  their  fine  trappings?" 

And  truly,  the  horses  were  handsome,  veil- 
kept  animals ;  sufficiently  "  splendid  "  to  attract 
admiration  anywhere.  Their  names  were  a  con- 
ceit of  Ralph's  ;  well  matched  as  to  size  and 
color,  and  outline,  they  yet  presented  marked 
contrasts  in  disposition ;  Philip  of  Macedon, 
having  when  left  to  himself,  a  martial  tread  and 
an  untamed  eye,  was  given  to  snorting,  pawing 
and  usurpation.  William  Penn,  on  the  other 
hand,  was  as  gentle  as  he  was  handsome,  and 
fleet  and  strong. 

It  was  the  twelfth  of  August;  and,  as  the 
chosen  method  of  travel  would  be  impracticable 


64  Ralph's  Possession. 

after  the  days  became  decidedly  cool,  it  was  ar- 
ranged to  start  so  unprecedentedly  early  as  the 
third  of  September,  in  order  to  accomplish  their 
Ohio  visit,  and  get  well  on  their  way  southward 
by  the  first  of  October. 

The  three  weeks  slipped  quickly  away,  —  all 
too  quickly  poor  Rebekah  thought ;  and  so 
thought  every  one  except  Ralph  and  the  visionary 
Zed.  One  after  another  the  looked-for  let- 
ters came  in,  complimenting  Mr.  Gushing  on 
his  liberal  invention,  and  full  of  cordiality  to- 
ward the  proposed  visits.  "  Cousin  Cecilia  "  was 
particularly  overflowing.  "Safety,  speed,  and 
comfort,"  she  wrote,  "  are  three  words  that 
make  a  phrase  in  all  railway  advertisements 
now-a-days.  And  where  speed  is  essential,  as  it 
generally  is  in  this  hey-day  world,  the  second 
word  is  the  great  thing  of  beauty  in  men's  eyes. 
But  I  say  put  benefit  for  *  speed,'  and  couple 
*  safety  '  and  *  comfort '  with  that  veracious  ad- 
jective absolute,  and  you  have  the  perfection  of 
travelling.  Where  is  this  to  be  found  dear  Helen 


Preparations  for  the  Journey.  65 

bnt  in  one's  own  family  carriage  ?  —  supposing 
the  horses  to  be  gentle,  the  driver  reliable,  the 
harness  perfect,  the  wheels  quite  secure,  and 
everything  exactly  as  it  should  be ;  neither  flaw, 
nor  jar,  nor  apprehension  of  hindrance.  In 
the  present  instance  all  this  is  quite  supposable  : 
for  Mr.  Gushing,  I  know,  is  a  man  of  all  others 
to  have  everything  absolute  in  its  way." 

Cousin  Cecilia  had  a  sparkle  of  fun  in  her 
constitution,  but  she  had  also  her  absolute  quali- 
ties, and  one  of  these  was  sincerity.  All  who 
knew  her  at  all,  knew  this.  And,  as  suspicion 
was  not  one  of  Mr.  Cushing's  weaknesses,  the 
unfair  thought  happily  did  not  occur  to  him,  that 
this  good  creature  might  possibly  be  quizzing 
him,  just  a  very  little  and  quite  charitably. 

A  great  deal  was  done  in  those  three  weeks  of 
preparation,  and  an  unwonted  degree  of  diligent 
care  was  awakened  on  the  part  of  all  the  ser- 
vants, to  have  everything  exactly  right  for  mis- 
tress during  her  too  brief  delay  before  the  long 

farewell,  so  that  what  had  always  been  done 

I 


66  Ralph's  Poisession. 

cheerfully  and  well  was  now  done  superlatively. 
The  cooking  had  never  been  so  faultlessly  exact, 
nor  so  skilfully  varied  and  elaborate ;  the  car- 
pets had  never  been  so  accurately  swept,  nor 
every  speck  of  dust  spied  out  so  ruthlessly  by 
Joan,  without  a  hint  from  anyone  ;  the  linen  had 
never  been  quite  so  snowy  or  so  glossy  before, 
nor  so  carefully  laid  away.  And  with  all  the 
natural  excitement  and  disturbance  occasioned 
by  the  great  event,  the  house  had  never  been 
more  quiet,  nor  had  Mr.  Gushing  ever  been  so 
nearly  affectionate  towards  his  wife  since  the 
first  six  months  of  their  wedded  life,  as  during 
the  last  two  of  these  three  eventful  weeks.  On 
two  occasions  he  actually  accompanied  the 
family  from  breakfast  to  the  little  drawing-room, 
and  begged  the  mother  to  goon  with  the  custom- 
ary reading  as  if  he  were  not  there,  —  a  direc- 
tion in  the  form  of  a  request,  with  which  she 
was  hardly  able  to  comply  for  too  much  joy. 

One  day  near  sunset,  in  the  last  week  of  that 
glad,   yet   half-sad   time   of  preparation,   Ralph 


Preparations  for  the  Journey.  67 

who  had  been  vexing  his  soul  with  the  irksome 
law-study  and  was  not  yet  quite  in  a  perfect 
mood,  sat  leaning  out  of  his  western  window, 
indulging  in  certain  reflections,  longings  and 
aspirations  of  which  no  one  but  himself  has  ever 
known  the  exact  purport.  The  last  hour  had 
been  a  pleasant  one,  though  not  quite  filling  to 
his  satisfaction,  the  vacant  place  that  somehow 
he  could  never  get  filled.  He  had  just  returned 
from  driving  his  mother  and  sister  in  the  light 
phaeton  over  to  friend  Hopefield's,  to  say  a  kind- 
ly farewell  to  them  all,  and  especially  to  Faith, 
whose  wedding  couldn't  possibly  be  made  to  come 
off  before  October,  and  she  must  be  excused  if 
the  tears  did  start  with  the  vain  regret  that  Mrs. 
Gushing  could  not  ornament  it  with  her  presence, 
and  warm  it  with  her  fresh,  kind  salutations. 

Ralph  always  enjoyed  these  drives,  and  this 
evening  he  had  particularly  enjoyed  the  society 
of  his  two  companions,  which,  —  like  the  famil- 
iar landscape,  never  shifting,  yet  always  in  soma 
way  changing  and  newly  suggestive,  —  had  en- 


68  Ralph's  Possession. 

livened  him  greatly  for  the  time.  But,  for  all 
this,  he  had  returned  only  to  take  up  again  the 
burden  of  his  vexed  and  tired  mood ;  not  de- 
jected, but  weary  and  reflective,  he  allowed  a 
shade  of  the  vexation  in  the  tone  with  which  he 
answered  a  rap  at  his  door,  but  uttered  an  excla- 
mation of  glad  welcome  as  Rebekah  entered. 

"  Not  tired  of  me  yet,  patient  brother  ?  "  she 
asked  gayly,  as  she  stepped  forward  to  his  win- 
dow-seat. 

"  Oh,  sister,  no ;  I  am  sure  you  don't  think 
I  am  or  can  be  tired  of  you.  Bat  I  am  not 
'  patient,'  not  a  bit  so.  Sit  down,  you  rest  me 
already." 

She  sat  down,  waiting  for  him  to  say  more ; 
only  stroking  his  hand  fondly,  and  once  saying 
how  much  their  mamma  had  enjoyed  the  drive 
and  the  call,  these  Hopefields  were  sc  simple 
and  intelligent. 

"  Rebekah,"  said  Ralph  after  a  long  gaze  of 
enjoyment  at  the  glowing  sunset,  in  which  he 
knew  she  was  participating,  "  did  you  know  that 


Preparations  for  the  Journey.  69 

you  omitted  Cahary?  I  mean  the  other  day 
when  we  talked,  walking  through  the  grounds, 
and  you  spoke  of  Christ  as  the  One  of  Geth- 
Bemane  and  Olivet." 

"  1  hoped  you  would  have  noticed  it,  and  am 
glad  you  have,"  said  Rebekah.  "  Indeed,  I  have 
felt  so  sure  that  you  would  resume  our  talk  of 
that  happy  morning  before  you  and  mamma 
leave,  that  I  have  been  quite  safe  in  waiting  for 
you.  Yes,  I  purposely  omitted  Calvary  then, 
because  I  was  thinking  especially  of  our 
Saviour's  human  living  and  teaching  ;  or  rather, 
the  Divine  teaching  of  His  human  lips  and 
life ;  of  how  he  was  made  flesh,  and  dwelt 
among  us.  The  fulness  of  grace  and  truth  were 
manifested  before  the  precious  blood  was  shed. 
There  was  suffering  in  the  life,  there  was  sorrow 
in  the  living  heart  ;  but  it  was  all  the  necessary 
condition  of  a  living  fellowship  with  the  Father 
in  this  world  that  hated  the  Father,  and  of  the 
devotion  to  the  work  He  had,  in  thj  form  of  a 
servant,  undertaken  for  His  afflicted  and  poor 


70  Ralph's  Possession. 

people.  There  was  sacrifice  in  this  Divine 
opportunity,  well  fulfilled ;  of  Divine  great- 
ness in  humilation ;  of  becoming  the  patient 
ingatherer  of  His  own  flock,  and  opening  their 
minds  to  the  truth,  their  hearts  to  Himself.  In 
all  this  there  was  sacrifice.  But  in  the  blood- 
shedding  was  redemption,  and  more  than  redemp- 
tion, —  atonement !  for  the  heart  apprehending  the 
death  of  Christ  as  He  himself  does,  is  at  one  with 
Him  forevermore." 

Again  Ralph  made  no  immediate  reply ;  and 
when  he  did  speak  he  only  said  somewhat 
abruptly,  "  Oh,  I  have  heard  endless  sermons  on 
these  subjects ;  some  of  them  very  sweetly  and 
manfully  spoken,  by  men  who  were  intellectually 
strong,  and  no  doubt  speaking  their  convictions 
and  living  by  them.  All  I  can  say  is  that,  in 
my  own  belief,  I  am  no  where  in  particular ; 
except  that  I  am  sure  there  is  something  in 
Christ  that  I  want." 

Rebekah  did  not  know  what  to  say.  She 
knew  that  God  had  taught  her  own  heart,  but 


Preparations  for  the  Journey.  71 

she  was  not  sure  of  her  ability  to  teach  another. 
She  spoke  soon,  saying  gently,  "  It  is  not  only 
something  in  Him  that  you  want,  or  need.  You 
need  Him  ;  and  your  want,  or  longing,  will  be 
filled  when  you  possess  Him.  He  did  not  give 
something  that  He  had  or  was  for  us.  He  gave 
Himself  for  us.1' 

"  Well  "  said  Ralph,  "  I  dare  say  you  say  well, 
but  I  do  not  understand  it.  I  remember  your 
expression  of  the  other  day —  'personal  acquain- 
tance with  the  Saviour.'  I  can  realize  that  there 
may  be  a  divine,  unseen,  everywhere  present 
Person  —  such  an  one  as  mother  seems  acquainted 
with,  and  seems  to  be  always  within  reach  rf. 
But  then,  if  the  *  possessing '  of  which  you 
speak  lies  in  a  getting,  how  am  I  to  get  or  lay 
claim  to  the  Person  as  possessed  acquaintance, 
friend,  saviour  ?  The  getting,  certainly  does  not 
come  by  reformation  ;  I  have  seen  reformed  men, 
and  moral  men,  who  needed  no  reforming ;  spot- 
less men,  in  their  own  eyes,  and  before  any  human 
tribunal.  I  have  admired  and  disliked  them 


72  Ralph's  Possession. 

about  equally.  I  never  could  feel  that  they  had 
Christ." 

"  Oh,  Ralph  dear,"  said  Rebekah,  "  it  is  not 
getting,  it  is  receiving." 

There  was  no  impatience  in  the  tone  in  which 
Ralph  replied  ;  "  I  don't  understand  the  one  any 
better  then  the  other,  sister.  But  everything 
you  say  carries  the  conviction  that  you  are  not 
mistaken."  Then,  after  a  moment  of  silence  he 
added,  "  You  did  not  answer  my  question  the 
other  day." 

"What  question?" 

44  You  were  certain  there  would  be  a  good  end 
to  this  unsettledness,  —  these  difficulties  and 
questionings  —  and  I  asked  you  how  you  knew." 

Rebekah  laughed  her  sweet,  natural  laugh. 
There  was  nothing  in  it  that  could  irritate  or 
wound.  "  I  tried  to  answer  you,"  she  said. 
'*  What  was  it  ?  Oh,  yes  !  I  said  that  the  cer- 
tainty was  not  in  you.  Of  course  it  could  not 
be.  There  is  nothing  certain  in  any  of  us." 

44  You  can't  persuade  me,"  said  Ralph,  "  that 


Preparations  for  the  Journey.  73 

that  answered  the  question,  nor  that  you  think 
it  did.  Your  mind  works  too  accurately  to  dujre 
itself  that  way." 

Rebekah  laughed  again.  She  could  not  help 
it.  But  seeing  that  Ralph  could  not  exactly 
join  her,  she  let  herself  again  into  t!;e  stronger 
mood.  "  You  are  concerned  about  the  issue,'* 
she  said,  "because  you  are  looking  at  everything 
from  your  own  unsettled  stand -point,  and  the 
largest,  most  reliable  party  believed  in  is  your 
uncertain  self." 

Ralph  started.  Did  Rebekah  say  that  ?  And 
was  that  really  true  ?  But  he  only  said,  "  Well, 
the  question  is  not  answered  yet." 

Rebekah  continued:  "If  I  thought  you  under 
some  vague  excitement,  or  actuated  by  some 
definite  calculation  of  self-interest,  I  should  not 
be  at  all  happy  as  to  the  probable  result,  because 
1  should  not  be  at  all  sure  that  God  were  lead- 
ing you  to  Himself,  —  only  that  you  were  your- 
self endeavoring  to  impel  yourself  into  some 
sort  of  a  religious  life.  But  it  is  quite  plain 


74  Ralph'*  Possession. 

that  God  is  doing  with  you  what  He  always 
does  with  a  soul  that  He  is  determined  to  sub- 
due and  lift  up.  He  is  making  you  hungry  for 
Him.  The  hand  of  Christ  has  touched  your 
heart,  and  discovered  to  you  its  weakness,  its 
emptiness.  But  you  are  thereby  wedded  to  that 
hand.  Its  touch  drew  you,  and  awoke  you 
into  eagerness,  —  thoughtful,  abiding,  real,  —  to 
know  and  live  with  the  heart  that  animates  and 
moves  that  bruising,  healing  touch.  You  are 
thirsty  for  the  living  God.  And,"  she  said,  put- 
ting up  her  face  to  his,  all  radiant  with  sisterly 
pride,  affection,  and  yearning,  "  it  almost  seems 
that  you  are  beginning  to  drink." 

He  bent  over  and  let  her  kiss  him,  but  did 
not  answer  her  by  word  or  sign,  save  that  one. 
They  sat  until  the  twilight  deepened.  Then 
Ralph  said  they  must  look  for  their  mother. 
"  You  must  have  all  of  mamma  that  you  can 
while  she  is  at  home,"  he  said.  And  as  they 
rose  to  go,  he  told  Rebekah  that  her  last  word 
had  brought  to  his  mind  the  words  of  Jesus : 


Preparations  for  the  Journey.  75 

If  any  man  thirst,  let  Mm  come  unto  me  and 
drink.  "  Ate  you  perfectly  sure  that  the  living 
God  is  there  ? "  he  asked. 

"  Perfectly  sure  !  "  she  answered,   **  and  y(  u 
will  not  rest  until  you  are  sure  also." 


CHAPTER  VI. 

FRIENDLY  GATHERINGS. 

NE  of  the  last  things  to  be  accomplished 
before  the  final  departure,  was  an  even- 
ing entertainment  to  the  remnant  of 
"  city  company  "  that  remained  so  late 
at  Apple  Downs,  and  to  the  few  resident  gran- 
dees who  were  able  to  feel  at  home  on  the 
Brussels  and  velvet  of  the  mansion.  To  Mrs. 
Gushing  and  Rebekah  this  was  partly  an  imper- 
ative ceremony  to  be  begun,  conducted,  and 
finished  according  to  Mr.  Cushing's  most  exact 

ideas;    partly   a  pleasant   and  congenial   mode 
(76) 


Friendly  Gatherings.  77 

of  expressing  their  cordial  interest  in  their  ac- 
quaintances, and  their  unwillingness  to  omit  this 
opportunity  of  giving  them  a  pleasant  evening 
and  a  bright  farewell.  As  for  Ralph,  he  liked 
these  occurrences  well  enough  while  they  lasted, 
and  was  very  glad  when  they  were  well  over, 
lie  was  quite  able  to  be  the  life  of  any  com- 
pany, but  was  more  content  to  be  looking  out 
the  two  or  three  choice  spirits  of  the  company, 
with  whom  he  could  interchange  thought  as 
well  as  animation.  Of  animation,  however, 
Ralph  had  a  large  fund,  and  his  absence  from 
any  circle  where  he  was  known,  was  always 
a  presence  missed,  —  as  was  the  case  on  this 
eventful  evening,  for  the  short  and  simple  reason 
that  Ralph  had  a  headache.  Miss  Celestina  Ru- 
bens, who  sought  to  rival  her  illustrious  name- 
sake with  paint  and  brush,  was  especially  disap. 
pointed  that  Ralph  was  not  to  be  seen,  because 
she  wished  his  "  valued  opinion  "  as  to  sundry 
points  in  her  art  where  opinions  might  differ. 
She  had  decided  to  remain  in  the  country  a 


78  Ralph's  Possession. 

month  later  than  usual,  in  order  to  sketch  in 
water  colors  "  the  best  scenes  of  the  season," 
which  she  could  then  copy  in  oil  at  her  longest 
leisure.  Miss  Celestina  had  brought  a  miniature 
landscape,  done  in  oil  colors,  all  the  way  from 
the  Rubens  farm,  to  present  to  Mrs.  Gushing, 
if  Rebekah  thought  it  would  "  do ; "  a  most 
happy  phrase,  allowing  the  martyr  critic  to  say, 
"  Oh,  by  all  means  —  perfectly  well,"  without 
the  least  hesitation ;  and  then,  of  her  own  vol- 
untary pleasure,  to  invent  certain  kind  and 
truthful  expressions,  in  order  that  the  aspiring 
article  might  escape  the  slightest  wound  of  mis- 
giving that  her  sorry  daub  was  not  in  every  pos- 
sible way  acceptable.  Miss  Rubens,  who  was  as 
generally  disinterested  as  she  was  simple,  was 
thus  quite  bereft  of  all  concern  on  the  subject. 
Her  face  lighted  up  much  as  the  face  of  one 
born  blind  may  become  expanded  and  quickened 
under  a  discourse  about  the  sun,  and  she  was 
able  to  pass  the  evening  quite  comfortably,  not- 
withstanding Ralph's  absence,  —  declaring  that, 


Friendly  Gatherings.  79 

when  the  evening  star  had  set,  there  was  no  use 
expecting  it  to  rise  till  the  world  had  turned 
over  again. 

Mrs.  Gushing  moved  among  her  guests  with 
the  ease,  and  fine  carriage,  and  quick  perception 
of  which  her  husband  was  so  proud,  and  with 
the  benevolent  eye  and  unaffected  gesture  so  in- 
separable from  her  nature.  Both  host  and  host- 
ess were  admirable  in  their  sphere,  noticing  the 
in-coming  of  each  new  guest,  greeting  each  with 
genuine  grace  and  cordiality,  never  wanting  in 
suitable  words  of  welcome,  and  making  some 
pleasant  introductions  for  all.  With  all  this, 
each  was  moving  here  and  there  to  see  that  all 
were  well  entertained;  occasionally  forming  new 
groups,  or  starting  new  themes. 

While  Rebekah  was  still  entertaining  Miss 
Celestina,  and  a  few  other  young  ladies  and 
gentlemen,  Mr.  Livermore  Maxwell  was  dis- 
coursing to  Mr.  Cushing's  great  amusement,  of 
the  improved  state  and  style  of  restaurants  in 
New  York  since  he  was  a  boy, —  forty  years  then 


80  Ralph's  Possession. 

gone.  And  the  same  gentleman  proceeded  to 
edify  Mr.  Wunderman  with  an  amazing  amount 
of  eloquence  on  the  inadequacy  of  railroad  pro- 
jections to  meet  the  wants  of  the  country  ;  the 
like  inadequacy  of  investments  for  the  work  in 
hand,  and  the  deficiency  of  stone  bridges,  and  of 
engineering  generally. 

Doctor  Say  well  was  there,  of  course  ;  and  was 
overheard  to  say  that  the  Cushings  entertained 
better  than  anybody  in  the  country.  The  sorest 
trial  of  the  evening  to  Mrs.  Gushing  ( except 
the  wine,  which  Mr.  Gushing  had  imperatively 
voted  in)  was  a  long  disquisition  from  Matthew 
Drawdeep,  Esq.,  on  the  significance  of  the  times, 
and  the  important  moral  lessons  to  be  deduced 
from  recent  political  and  social  events.  Mr. 
Drawdeep  was  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday 
School  in  Mr.  Hidden's  church ;  and  he  ex- 
pressed his  conviction  that  the  children  should 
be  instructed  more  by  the  moral  import  of  pass- 
ing facts,  and  the  analogies  of  nature,  than 
from  "the  letter  of  the  Gospel,"  —  a  phrase  that 


Friendly  Gatherings.  81 

was  quite  new  to  Mrs.  Gushing.  She  extricated 
herself  at  last,  pitying  the  Sunday  School  chil- 
dren very  much,  and  pitying  herself  a  little,  that 
she  had  been  obliged  to  be  polite  to  Mr.  Draw- 
deep,  for  at  least  ten  minutes,  when  her  presence 
was  essential  elsewhere. 

When  the  company  dispersed,  Miss  Celestina 
with  commendable  adroitness,  found  just  the 
right  opportunity  to  present  her  "  oil  sketch  " 
to  Mrs.  Gushing  who,  in  her  sincere  regard  for 
the  good  young  lady,  had  no  difficulty  whatever 
in  accepting  it,  in  a  manner  that  gave  the  giver 
greater  pleasure  than  her  own  best  execution 
could  possibly  have  done  in  itself.  The  ever 
true  and  ever  perfect  word  of  the  Lord  Jesus, 
that  it  is  more  blessed  to  give  than  to  receive, 
was  doubly  exemplified  in  this  instance.  There 
was  superlative  blessing  on  each  side  ;  because, 
as  each  received,  each  gave,  cordially,  sincerely, 
if  not  equally. 

•        ••••••• 

But  it  was  not  enough  for  Mrs.  Gushing  that 
6 


82  RalpJis  Possession. 

her  friends  and  her  rich  neighbors  had  received 
gome  expression  of  her  husband's  society  views 
and  her  own  good-will.  She  could  not  be  satis- 
fied without  the  added  pleasure  of  an  entertain- 
ment that  should  bring  in  many  of  her  esteemed 
and  valued  neighbors,  who  would  not  have  felt 
at  home  in  the  gathering  first  assembled.  To 
this  Mr.  Gushing  made  no  objection.  He  liked 
to  have  his  house  thrown  open;  and  if  his  wife 
was  pleased  to  flatter  those  people,  it  was  noth- 
ing to  him. 

The  three  ministers  of  the  three  parishes  of 
Apple  Downs,  who  were  present  on  the  evening 
just  noticed,  were  especially  requested  to  favor 
Mrs.  Gushing  with  their  presence  again  on  the 
third  evening  following  ;  when  they  would  meet 
with  numerous  members  of  their  respective 
flock  not  among  the  first  company. 

Happily,  Ralph  was  well  and  in  good  order 
for  the  second  occasion  ;  happily  for  him,  as  ha 
would  have  missed  more  the  simpler  entertain- 
ment of  the  simpler  folk,  than  he  had  missed  that 


Friendly   Gatherings.  8«- 

which  was  more  fulsome,  and  on  the  whole, 
more  brainless.  There  were  staunch,  sensible 
tradesmen  in  Apple  Downs,  and  farmers  of  the 
same  type  on  the  broad,  rich  lands  around  ;  men 
who  fought  sturdily  the  battle  of  life,  and  who 
thought  while  they  fought,  and  who  read  and 
pondered  the  thoughts  of  other  men.  There 
were  active,  conscientious  housewives,  and  well- 
trained  young  men  and  maidens,  full  of  inherited 
good  sense  and  native  good  manners.  Of  these 
the  majority  were  well  to  do,  and  some  were 
poor.  They  were  growing  accustomed  to  these 
entertainments, —  for  every  year  there  was  some- 
thing of  the  kind, —  and  the  first  strangeness  was 
BO  far  wearing  off,  that  some  who  could  not  be 
persuaded  to  come  at  first,  were  now  throwing 
off  their  awkwardness,  the  timidity  being  ex- 
changed not  for  boldness,  —  that  were  impossible 
in  the  presence  of  the  Cushiugs,  —  but  for  a 
higher  tone  of  self-respect,  and  a  confidence  in 
the  sincere  good-will  of  their  entertainers. 
Thus,  of  all  those  mvited,  there  were  missing 


84  Ralph's  Possession. 

only  the  widow  Rhoda  Bailey  and  her  two 
daughters.  Little  Rosa  would  have  been  glad 
to  be  of  the  number,  but  her  mother  and  sister 
Amelia  could  see  no  propriety  in  accepting 
attentions  that  they  could  not  possibly  return. 
So  little  Rose  found  it  quite  essential  to  be 
resigned,  and  the  more  so  that  she  had  no 
acknowledged  friend  for  escort.  But  Rose  had 
learned  the  happiness  of  making  others  happy, 
and  found  her  heart  always  more  glad  in  listen- 
ing to  her  mother's  expressed  judgment,  than  in 
advancing  her  own.  "  Why  should  I  trouble 
mother,"  she  would  say,  "  with  opposing  my 
wish  to  her  judgment  ?  Ten  to  one  her  judg- 
ment is  always  really  the  best.  And  even  if  it 
be  otherwise,  it  is  far  happier  for  me  to  make 
what  remains  of  her  life  smooth  and  peaceful, 
than  to  have  my  own  way."  After  all,  Rose's 
"  own  way  "  was  exactly  what  she  was  continu- 
ally doing,  viz.,  to  contribute  by  every  possible 
means  to  her  loved  mother's  happiness. 

The   three  ministers    were   there  to  a  man. 


Friendly  Gatherings.  85 

There  was  Reverend  Frank  Clearwater,  with 
large,  serious  blue  eyes,  and  quick,  bright,  manly 
speech.  He  was  accompanied  by  his  friend, 
Professor  Payn,  whose  inability  to  be  present  oa 
the  first  evening  was  replaced  by  his  ability  to 
present  himself  on  this  occasion.  If  the  exact- 
ness of  his  costume  was  somewhat  fastidious,  it 
after  all  did  not  assort  ill  with  his  well-made 
figure  and  his  regular  features.  These  last  only 
wanted  the  play  of  a  less  conscious  manner,  and 
a  freer  smile  to  make  them  fine.  Then  there 
was  the  Reverend  A.  W.  Hidden,  with  counte- 
nance of  mildly  benevolent  cast.  It  was  under- 
stood that  the  letters  A.  W.  stood  for  Amaniah 
Wiseman  ;  but,  as  Mr.  Hidden  was  not  himself 
partial  to  the  name  Amaniah,  he  invariably 
wrote  himself  A.  Wiseman  Hidden, —  a  name  that 
was,  on  the  whole,  more  suggestive  to  his 
parishioners  and  his  immediate  neighbors  than  to 
him.  And  then  the  cheery,  stately,  slightly 
pompous,  very  gentle  Pastor  Laidley,  of  the 
Scottish  kirk.  A  favorite  maxim  with  this  good 


86  Ralph's  Possession. 

man  ran  somewhat  thus :  "  Contentment  and 
accuracy  insure  happiness.'*  And,  as  he  c  )uld 
never  be  otherwise  than  profound,  (even  his 
simplicity  seemed  profoundly  simple),  it  fol- 
lowed that  in  personifying  his  own  maxim,  he 
became  profoundly  content  and  profoundly  accu- 
rate. He  was  also  profoundly  original,  —  but 
that  was  not  his  fault,  —  and  the  gift  was  well 
carried  and  used  only  for  good.  When  he  was 
entreated  that  his  maxim  was  a  worldly  one, 
conveying  no  ray  of  evangelical  truth,  he  would 
say, —  every  syllable  clarified  with  broad  Scottish 
brogue,  —  "  So  also  is  the  word  'Thou  shalt  love 
thy  neighbor  as  thyself,'  if  it  be  left  to  the 
world's  usage."  He  would  then  amplify  much 
as  follows:  "The  grace  of  the  Lord  brings 
contentment,  and  the  truth  of  the  Lord  begets 
accuracy.  And  the  fulness  of  the  Lord's  grace 
and  truth  is  fulness  of  joy  indeed." 

These  three  good  men  were  all  beloved  iu 
their  measure  ;  and  it  was  good  for  them  and  for 
their  respective  churches  to  be  thus  thrown 


Friendly  Gathering*.  87 

together,  and  thus  once  more  reminded  that 
they  were  all  brethren,  redeemed  by  one  Saviour, 
fed  by  one  Shepherd,  owned  by  one  Lord.  The 
company  numbered  more  than  the  first.  Library, 
drawing-room,  and  spacious  hall  were  as  full  aa 
was  comfortable,  and  in  the  words  of  Patty 
Jenkins,  then  present,  "  all  in  a  buzz."  The 
parlors  were  not  thrown  open,  and  for  two 
reasons,  both  of  which  seemed  to  Mr.  Gushing 
very  silly,  —  but  then  he  never  troubled  himself 
about  "  those  people."  In  the  first  place,  Mrs. 
Gushing  had  an  instinctive  dread  of  doing  any- 
thing that  could  seem  like  displa}Ting  her  posses- 
sions to  her  neighbors  who  had  less  than  she. 
And  then,  further,  the  library  and  drawing- 
room  were  comparatively  so  plain  as  to  afford 
a  better  sense  of  ease  and  comfort  to  her 
guests.  That  her  judgment  was  not  at 
fault  in  this  last  particular  was  evinced  in  a 
remark  of  one  of  the  number,  Elder  Marius  Jones 
by  name,  to  Farmer  Black,  in  the  presence  of  good 
Doctor  Laidley,and  reported  by  him  afterward  to 


88  Ralph's  Possession. 

his  own  and  the  hostess'  "  profound  "  amusement. 
The  three  were  standing  in  the  hall,  taking  their 
coffee,  (Mr.  Gushing  had  consented  to  entertain 
without  wine  on  this  evening).  The  conversa- 
tion had  turned  upon  church  matters,  and  Elder 
Jones  was  expressing  himself  quite  disturbed 
because  of  the  perverse  impossibility  of  managing 
one  "  social  level  "  in  this  world  for  all  who  are 
Christ's  "  I  tell  you,  domine"  he  said,  ad- 
dressing with  much  emphasis  his  reverend 
neighbor  of  the  Scottish  kirk,  "  the  mount  of 
Zion  mourns  when  one  brother  can't  meet  another 
on  the  same  footing  in  all  respects.  I  dare  say 
it's  all  right,  socially  considered.  We're  in  the 
world,  and  there  must  be  divisions  of  trade  or 
occupation  ;  anil  there  must  be  grades  of  educa- 
tion accordingly  The  poor  man  can't  have 
what  the  rich  man  has ;  and  the  manners  of  us 
ploughmen  can't  be  every  way  agreeable  to  men 
of  learning ;  nor  theirs  ain't  to  us,  as  I  know  of. 
(I  beg  pardon,  domine  ;  nothing  personal).  But 
it  does  seem  strange,  unaccountable,  and  some- 


Friendly  Gatherings.  89 

how  sorrowful,  that  where  the  Spirit  of  Christ 
is,  His  love  shouldn't  prevail  over  all  these 
differences,  and  even  wipe  'em  out.  They  come 
nearer  to  it  here  than  any  place,  maybe,"  he 
said  lowering  his  voice,  and  addressing  Mr. 
Black  especially.  "  Now  these  carpets  ain't  such 
as  man  is  afraid  to  step  on ;  and,  if  I  can't  find 
a  spittoon  anywhere  'round,  it  isn't  so  much 
matter  for  one  evening,  so  long  as  the  chairs  are 
stout  enough  to  sit  on.  I  told  my  domine  the 
other  day  that  if  the  convention  of  churches 
was  to  be  in  New  York  this  year  I  wouldn't  go. 
Not  that  I  don't  love  the  churches  down  there, 
(and  Christ's  people,  be  they  rich  or  poor,  love 
one  another).  I  told  him,  not  a  doubt  but  that  I 
would  be  well  treated.  I  believe  that  on  the 
whole  the  love  of  the  Master  rules  in  the 
churches,  bad  as  things  look  sometimes.  But  if 
I  was  to  go  down  there,  likely  as  not  I  should  be 
quartered  with  some  rich  family  where  I  couldn't 
spit  if  I  wanted  to ;  and  though  they  wouldn't 
for  the  world  hurt  my  feelings,  I  should  be  all 


90  Ralph's  Possession. 

the  time  afraid  of  offending  theirs.  On  the 
whole,  Pastor  Laidley,  these  ministers  of  the 
Gospel  — the  real  ones  I  mean  are  about  the  only 
learned  folks  that  an  unlearned  brother  can  feel 
at  home  with.  And  these  Cushings  "  —  his  voice 
fell  nearly  to  a  whisper  again  as  he  touched 
Farmer  Black  on  the  shoulder  —  "  these  Cushings 
are  about  the  only  rich  ones  where  a  poor  man 
can  feel  sure  he  isn't  in  the  way.  Who  doesn't 
like  Mister  Ralph  ?  And  Miss  Rebekah  —  ain't 
her  words  like  apples  of  gold  ? 

"  But  what  is  the  explanation  of  all  this,  that 
I  believe  is  right  in  the  main,  because  in  the 
main  necessary ;  and  that  yet  seems  some- 
how all  wrong  ?  " 

Farmer  Black  thought  that  social  grades  and 
distinctions,  such  as  Elder  Jones  referred  to, 
evidently  ordained  of  God  as  suited  to  our  pres- 
ent human  estate ;  and  that,  so  long  as  the 
church  on  earth  is  made  up  of  human  beings,  its 
members  are  members  also  of  the  great  human 
family,  and  as  such  have  certain  social  conditions 


Friendly   Gatherings.  91 

to  fill ;  having  thus,  perhaps,  all  the  better  op« 
poitunity  to  manifest  the  Spirit  of  Christ  toward 
one  another.  To  be  sure,  there  is  failure  in 
man;  but,  as  far  as  God's  ordination  is  con- 
cerned, it  is  better  for  us  to  adorn  it  than  to 
improve  upon  it. 

"  Ah ! "  said  Doctor  Laidley,  "  there  you 
made  an  excellent  point.  In  spirit  and  in  truth 
God's  dear  children  are  all  one  in  Christ  Jesus ; 
no  barbarian  and  Grecian  distinctions  here.  But 
under  present  conditions  the  practical  and  literal 
"  all  things  common "  seems  contrary  to  the 
divine  economy.  Such  a  social  system,  when 
demanded  by  the  peculiar  conditions  of  the  pri- 
mary Jewish  flock,  was  imprompted  and  inaug- 
urated by  the  Divine  Spirit  in  the  church.  It 
•would  be  quite  unsuited  to  ordinary  times  and 
conditions.  Hence  we  find  nothing  of  the  kind 
transpiring  in  the  Pauline  churches,  nor  sug- 
gested in  any  of  the  apostolic  letters.  There  is 
something  higher  and  larger  shown  to  us,  — '  let 
the  brother  of  low  degree  rejoice  in  that  he  i§ 


92  Ralph's  Possession. 

exalted,  but  the  rich  in  that  he  is  made  low.' 
God  desires  to  work  in  us  absolutely  after  such 
searching  and  unworldly  precepts  as,  '  Let  all 
your  things  be  done  with  love.'  '  That  ye  love 
one  another.'  *  It  is  more  blessed  to  give  than 
to  receive.'  *  Remember  the  poor.'  *  Honor  to 
whom  honor  is  due.'  *  Above  a  servant ;  a 
brother  beloved  '  — hand  in  hand  with  'Servants 
obey  your  masters  ....  pleasing  them  well  in 
all  things.'  It  is  one  chief  glory  of  the  Gospel," 
he  continued,  "  that  it  revolutionizes  society  not 
by  models  and  formulas  but  by  the  living  energy 
of  divine  principles.  This  is  manifest  in  looking 
over  the  social  progress  of  evangelized  nations. 
It  is  in  a  way  not  to  please  man  but  to  glorify 
God.  We  see  everywhere  among  the  foremost 
results  of  a  received  Gospel  the  elevation  of  the 
masses ;  not  in  a  way  to  confound,  but  to  de- 
fine and  dignify,  social  distinctions  ;  because  in 
the  earthly  state,  if  not  in  the  heavenly,  these 
are  for  the  best  welfare  of  all.  It  would  be 
impugning  the  wisdom  of  God  to  assume  that 


friendly   Gatherings.  93 

the  entrance  of  His  truth  should  unhumanize 
humanity.  Neighbor  Black  made  an  excellent 
point  there :  we  best  adorn  God's  ordination 
when  we  accept  it  as  it  stands.  Albeit,  as  re- 
gards love,  there  is  failure  in  us.  We  are  called, 
as  Christians,  to  adorn  the  doctrine  of  God  our 
Saviour,  in  all  things." 

Before  good  Doctor  Laidley  had  reached  the 
end  of  these  remarks,  which  seemed  directly  the 
fruit  of  Mr.  Black's  happy  sentiment,  he  found 
himself  the  oracle  of  quite  an  audience,  for  a 
number  of  interested  listeners  had  gathered 
about  him.  One  of  these  thought  the  reverend 
epeaker  was  possibly  right,  but  remembered  that 
the  only  "peculiar  condition  "  mentioned  of  the 
church  in  Jerusalem  was  that  the  whole  multi- 
tude "  were  of  one  heart  and  of  one  soul." 

Elder  Jones,  listening  first  to  himself  and  then 
to  the  reverend  doctor,  had  forgotten  to  drink 
his  coffee,  and  returned  now  to  that  fleshly  ali- 
ment. But  finding  it  quite  cold,  he  put  down 
bis  cup  with  mild  emphasis,  exclaiming,  "  Hem  I 


94  Ralph's  Possession. 

If  there's  anything  I  do  despise,  it  is  any  kind 
of  cold  victuals  I  " 


It  must  have  been  at  about  the  time  this 
conversation  occurred,  that  another  scene  was 
transpiring  in  the  library.  There  was  a  group 
of  four  standing  near  one  of  the  windows,  — 
Rebekah,  Ralph,  and  Professor  Payne  ;  and  be- 
tween these  two  gentlemen,  a  kindly,  motherly 
quakeress,  who  was  informing  them  with  some 
details  of  household  science.  This  discourse 
was  interesting  to  the  Professor,  because  he  was 
specifically  an  economist ;  it  was  interesting  to 
Ralph  and  Rebekah,  because  they  loved  every 
phase  of  Christian  domestic  life ;  and  it  was 
interesting  to  all  alike  because  of  the  rare  sim- 
plicity of  gesture,  and  diction,  and  sentiment 
that  adorned  the  garb  of  gray.  "  You  all  be- 
lievf,"  she  said,  "and  thee  knows,  Rebekah, 
that  the  work  in  hand  is  always  best  done  when 
the  heart  is  toward  God  in  it.  But,  after  all, 
one  can't  make  good  bread,  nor  a  good  washing 


Friendly  Gatherings.  95 

and  ironing,  unless  one  learns  how.  It  is  just  so 
with  all  those  qualities  and  habits  that  go  to 
make  up  character,  and  that  find  both  their  nur- 
sery and  their  supreme  dominion  in  household 
life.  Neatness,  order,  punctuality,  —  all  these 
have  to  be  learned  ;  and  if  not  acquired  by  our 
childhood's  training,  they  must  be  studied  after- 
ward. We  are  not  fit  to  enter  any  responsible 
position  till  we  have  learned  lessons  that  give 
fitness  for  it." 

A  deal  more  the  quiet  woman  in  gray  had 
already  said  ;  and  she  would  have  added  more 
beside,  had  not  Professor  Payne  at  that  moment 
plunged  himself  against  an  alabaster  flower- 
stand,  on  which  was  a  light  vase  filled  with 
day-lilies  and  salvias ;  thereby  precipitating  the 
vase  to  the  floor,  —  his  own  self-possession  going 
topsy-turvy  with  it.  The  poor  man  was  in  the 
depths  of  embarrassment,  from  which  Rehekah 
sought  in  vain  to  extricate  him.  "It  is  of  no 
consequence,  Mr.  Payne,  I  assure  you ;  not  the 
slightest.  See,  the  vase  is  not  broken,  and  the 


96  Ralph's  Possession. 

white   and   scarlet  are    in    as    fine   contrast  as 
ever." 

"  Let  me  collect  them  and  —  replace  them  — 
for  you,  Miss  Gushing,"  stammered  the  fright- 
ened man.  "  I  beg,  I  am  sure  I  beg  your  par- 
don !  mightily  awkward  !  " 

At  this  juncture  his  suffering  reached  its 
climax,  and  his  fair  complexion  the  altitude  of 
blushes. 

"  Why  Payne,  my  dear  man,  what's  the  mat- 
ler  ? "  said  Mr.  Clearwater,  just  then  passing 
that  way. 

"Oh!  he  is  contrasting  scarlet  and  white," 
said  the  mischievous  Ralph,  almost  bursting 
with  the  merriment  he  must  restrain.  "  But," 
he  added,  with  quick,  true  feeling  seeking  to 
turn  the  shaft  he  had  leveled,  "  I  like  the  lilies 
better  alone,  my  sister  and  I  never  can  agree 
about  flowers." 

The  quiet  woman  in  gray  drew  him  aside. 
"Ralph  Gushing,"  said  she,  "let  a  friend  say 
to  thee  thy  tongue  has  a  lesson  to  learn.  It  ia 


Friendly   Gatherings.  97 

not  in  good  training  if  thee  can  wantonly  wound 
a  neighbor  with  it  —  But  I  forget,  —  I  am  in  thy 
house,  not  in  mine.  I  must  not  beg  thy  pardon 
for  reproving  thee;  but  I  do  confess  I  might 
have  waited  a  more  just  opportunity." 

Ralph,  with  true  manliness,  was  sincerely 
grateful,  and  too  really  contrite  to  take  offence. 
"  There  couldn't  be  a  better  opportunity,"  he 
said. 

But  Professor  Payne  had  been  too  absorbed  in 
the  calamity  to  overhear  with  any  sharpness, 
and  nothing  had  been  noticed  by  him.  Mr. 
Clearwater  had  helped  in  re-arranging  the  flowers, 
and  in  res  oring  the  lost  equanimity ;  and  by  the 
time  Ralph  was  missed,  he  reappeared,  having 
left  his  matronly  friend  in  the  care  of  one  of  her 
own  first  cousins  ;  with  whom,  by  virtue  of  their 
respective  homes  being  separated  by  three  and  a 
half  miles,  she  had  not  met  for  two  full  years. 

"  Ralph,"  said  Rebekah,  "  the  meteors  have 
not  been  discussed  }ret.  Mr.  Clearwater  is  just 
telling  me  of  a  fine  exhibition  that  he  observed 


98  Ralph's  Possession. 

a  few  nights  ago.  Now,  with  three  learned 
gentlemen  at  hand,  I  have  a  golden  opportunity 
for  getting  myself  informed.  The  question  I 
raise  is,  What  are  meteors?" 

"  Must  we  all  speak  at  once  ?  I  defer  to  my 
superiors,"  said  Ralph,  bowing  to  the  other  two. 

Mr.  Cletirwater  in  his  turn  deferred  to  his 
learned  friend  the  Professor  ;  who  in  his  turn 
declared  all  subjects  related  to  astronomy  to  be 
quite  out  of  his  line,  and  suggested  that  Ralph 
being  fresh  from  scientific  lectures,  and  given  to 
all  sorts  of  reading,  could  doubtless  best  open 
the  subject. 

Ralph  was  really  disappointed  at  this ;  be- 
cause, —  wishing  to  know  more  on  the  subject 
than  he  then  did,  —  he  had  hoped  that  the  Pro- 
fessor would  say  much  that  he  could  not.  He, 
however,  took  up  in  brief  two  or  three  of  the 
various  theories  ;  and  thought  either  the  lunar 
theory  or  the  planetary  consistent  enough  with 
known  facts  to  explain  the  origin  of  meteoric 
stones.  But  the  class  of  meteors  known  in 


Friendly  Gatherings.  99 

strictness  as  shooting  stars,  was  involved  in  more 
obscurity.  There  was,  he  thought,  no  authenti- 
cated instance  of  any  one  of  these  having  fal- 
len to  the  earth.  Their  physical  character  was, 
therefore,  less  well  ascertained,  but  there  was 
reason  to  suppose  that  they  are  of  very  light 
material. 

"  But  how  far  are  they  from  us?  "  asked  Re- 
bekah.  "And  what  brings  them  so  suddenly 
within  our  vision,  to  be  as  suddenly  gone  ?  Do 
they  really  go  out,  as  a  candle  does,  or  do  they 
only  go  away  ?  And  what  gives  them  such  a 
light,  and  such  a  motion  ?  " 

"  In  the  case  of  aerolites,"  said  Ralph,  "  from 
which  are  derived  meteoric  stones,  the  altitude, 
when  seen,  is  certainly  not  very  great,  since  they 
are  then  passing  through  our  atmosphere.  As 
to  their  disappearance,  they  both  go  out  and  go 
away ;  since  it  seems  that  their  light  proceeds 
only  from  the  intense  heat  to  which  they  are 
brought  in  their  tremendous  passage  through  the 
resisting  air,  and  on  passing  out  of  the  air,  they 


100  Ralph's  Possession. 

cease  to  grow.  Before  we  can  decide  what 
gives  them  their  motion,  we  must  decide  their 
origin." 

"  And  the  shooting  stars  ?  "  asked  Rebekah. 
"Is  their  light  of  a  different  source?" 

"  Many  of  them,"  said  Ralph,  "  perhaps  the 
majority,  are  seen  at  altitudes  beyond  the  earth's 
atmosphere.  They  are,  therefore,  not  simply 
incandescent  because  of  atmospheric  resistance, 
as  is  the  case  with  meteoric  stones.  On  the 
contrary,  it  seems  well  proved  that  they  are 
self-luminous.  They  move  also,  with  planetary 
velocity,  as  meteoric  stones  do  not,  and  as  a 
lunar  projectile  certainly  could  not.  And  this," 
said  he,  "  is  about  the  sum  of  what  I  am  able 
to  state ;  according  to  which  there  is  about  as 
much  surmised  as  known.  I  dare  say  facts  have 
accumulated  since  I  turned  my  attention  to  the 
subject." 

"Indeed,  gentlemen,"  said  Rebekah,  when 
Ralph  paused,  "  is  all  this  only  a  little  ?  And 
what  does  it  mean  ?  It  is  all  very  interesting, 


Friendly  Gatherings.  101 

but,  as  you  say,  not  all  fact.  And,  in  part  at 
least,  Ralph,  you  should  explain  your  explana- 
tion. Do  you  really  mean,  for  instance,  that  a 
planet  of  our  system  has  at  some  time  been 
destroyed  ?  " 

*'  Oh,  that  is  well  known  to  everybody,"  said 
Ralph,  with  a  twinkle  toward  Clearwater. 

"Not  so,  Ralph,"  said  Rebekah;  "you  are 
wrong  for  once,  for  I  claim  that  *  everybody ' 
includes  me,  and  I  did  not  know  it." 

"  Ah,  well !  "  replied  he,  "  I  mean  all  except 
those  mortals  who  are  so  devoted  to  Greek,  and 
metaphysics,  and  needlework,  that  they  overlook 
some  other  matters." 

Mr.  Clearwater  suggested  that  the  fact  of  all 
fallen  aerolites  being  uniformly  made  up  of  four 
or  five  identical  substances,  would  hardly  com- 
port with  the  idea  of  their  planetary  origin,  since 
fragments  of  a  broken  planet  could  hardly  bo 
of  such  unvarying  material.  Ralph  had  not 
thought  of  this,  and  would  be  sorry  to  give  up 
his  pet  theory. 


102  Ralph**  Possession. 

"Then  these  showers  that  we  encounter, 
especially  in  the  months  of  August  and  Novem- 
ber, are  of  shooting-stars,  not  aerolites  ?  "  asked 
Rebekah. 

**  Oh,  by  all  means  not  aerolites,"  said  Ralph. 

Professor  Payne  cited  the  nebular  theory,  which 
he  remembered  to  have  seen  discussed  some- 
where, as  accounting  for  shooting-stars.  It 
seemed  to  him  quite  possible  that  the  earth 
should  encounter  zones  of  nebulous  matter,  at 
certain  given  parts  of  its  own  orbitary  course. 
Ralph  advanced  certain  difficulties  in  the  way 
of  maintaining  that  theory,  as,  that  there  could 
hardly  be  zones  of  nebula  passing  within  our 
system,  yet  only  visible  when  so  near  the  earth 
is  to  be  disturbed  by  it.  And  the  Professor 
remembered  to  have  seen  that  some  eminent 
scientist  was  so  in  despair  of  assigning  this 
doubtful  class  of  meteors  to  any  cosmical  origin, 
that  he  contented  himself  with  considering  the 
whole  phenomena  a  freak  of  electricity." 

Rebekah  continued  interested  so  long  that  she 


Friendly  Gathering*.  103 

was  ashamed;  and,  coming  to  herself,  she  begged 
Ralph  to  attend  to  two  forlorn  persons  at  a  little 
distance,  who  had  no  one  to  speak  to  them,  at 
the  same  time  excusing  herself  to  the  other  gen- 
tlemen in  order  to  look  up  a  few  of  the  guesta 
whom  she  had  not  yet  greeted. 


"  Mistress  Gushing,"  said  the  quiet  woman  in 
gray  as  the  company  was  breaking  up,  "  I  wish 
thee  all  sorts  of  prosperity  in  thy  absence,  and 
a  speedy  return  to  thy  family  and  thy  neighbors. 
Thee  has  a  good  escort  in  thy  son,  and  he  knowi 
the  way  he  should  go." 


CHAPTER    VII. 

THE  DEPARTURE. 

VVEETLY,  softly,  brightly,  came  the 
dawning  of  the  day  that  was  to  witness 
the  farewells  and  the  departure.  The 
house  was  early  astir.  Even  Mr.  Gush- 
ing had  beeu  slightly  enthusiastic  and  melan- 
choly by  turns  during  the  last  few  days,  and  this 
morning  he  was  strangely  impatient  for  the  very- 
last  good  and  orderly  breakfast  that  he  could 
possibly  expect  to  have  for  many  months.  What 
would  become  of  the  house  he  could  not  tell. 
He  was  perfectly  sure  that  the  travellers  would 

not  get  off  in  season  to  make  their  first  thirty 
(104) 


The   Departure.  105 

miles  that  day,  and  perfectly  sure  that  every- 
thing at  home  would  go  to  ruin  after  they  had 
gone ;  and  equally  distressed  with  each  of  the 
two  apprehensions.  "  was  ever  a  Gushing  the 
subject  of  such  a  complication  of  domestic  agi- 
tations, or  of  necessity  BO  tyrannical?" 

Rebekah  rallied  him  a  little  at  this.  **  Why, 
papa,  who  is  agitated  ?  or  what  is  there  in  agita- 
tion ?  Wait  till  you  have  had  a  cup  of  my 
coffee,  made  with  my  own  hand  —  because  Jane, 
in  her  hurry,  knocked  her  edition  off  the  stove 
—  and  your  nerves  will  come  so  sweetly  un- 
der it,  that  you  will  want  me  to  make  your 
coffee  all  winter.  I  expect  you  to  be  in  admi- 
ration of  my  supervisory  care  of  the  house  this 
winter,  and  almost  reconciled  to  your  unhappy 
lot,  papa.  And  Jane  has  a  superb  omelet  for 
you, — for  MS,  shall  I  say?—  and  such  muffins 
for  all,  but  for  '  Mistress  Gushing '  especially. 
The  good  creature  !  "  —  and  Rebekah  bit  her 
lip  to  choke  back  the  merriment  at  thinking, 
What  she  did  not  dare  to  say,  —  the  thought 


106  RalpKi  Possession. 


that  Jane  had  inevitably  mingled  a  tear  with 
every  dish,  —  since  the  bright,  perfect  morning 
had,  to  her,  been  misty  with  weeping. 

Just  here  Joan  came  to  the  library  to  say  that 
breakfast  was  quite  ready,  and  waiting;  but 
mistress  was  receiving  a  caller  in  the  drawing- 
room,  and  should  she  put  the  dishes  by  the  fire 
again  ?  —  "  for  it  wouldn't  be  no  way  right 
that  mistress  should  have  a  cold  breakfast  this 
morning." 

"  It  is  not  possible,"  said  Rebekah,  "  that  any 
one  should  detain  Mrs.  Gushing  long  at  this 
hour.-  Who  is  it,  Joan  ?  " 

"Oh,  it's  she  that's  Ethel's  sweetheart?" 
Baid  Joan  with  manifest  indignation,  but,  in  awe 
of  Mr.  Cnshing's  presence,  afraid  to  say  more. 

"  Ah,  well,  Joan,  poor  Faith  is  like  the  rest 
of  us  —  not  quite  ready  to  let  Mrs.  Gushing  go," 
—  and  Rebekah's  voice  shook  slightly.  But  she 
controlled  it  instantly,  and  dismissed  the  hand- 
maid, saying,  "  Very  well,  Joan,  we  will  come." 

"Now,  papa,"  she  continued,  "you  like  to 


The   Departure.  107 

linger  over  your  coffee,  so  we  can  easily  overtake 
you  if  you  make  a  beginning  without  ceremony. 
Come,  do,  papa  "  —  taking  his  arm  and  leading 
him  off.  There  was  something  in  Rebekah's 
influence  that  always  moulded  her  father  more 
or  less,  but  this  morning  he  was  singularly  pas- 
sive, and  contented  himself  with  grumbling  all 
the  way  from  the  library  to  the  breakfast-room. 
Rebekah  knew  very  well  that  the  temper  would 
be  smoother  with  the  breakfast  well  begun,  and 
was  determined  with  herself  to  have  all  "  quite 
right  before  mamma  comes."  Once  seated,  she 
continued :  "  I  am  proud  to  pour  for  you  a  cup 
of  my  coffee,  papa.  It  is  positively  ambrosial. 
Joan,  don't  you  spill  a  drop ! " 

"  No,  ma'am,"  said  Joan,  enjoying  the  episode 
as  much  as  she  dared,  acd  passing  the  coffee 
with  unruffled  accuracy. 

Meantime  Faith  Hopefield  was  unbosoming 
some  of  her  troubles  to  Mrs.  Gushing,  seeking  a 
stock  of  sympathy  and  counsel  to  fill  up  the 
demand  of  the  many  months  when  the  loved 


108  RalpW»  Possession. 

face  and  voice  would  be  absent.  Faith  had  no 
mother.  She  could  remember  her,  and  quite 
distinctly,  —  her  quiet,  matronly  face  without  a 
wrinkle  ;  her  uniform  of  gray  without  a  spot ; 
her  gentle  "  thee  may,  Faith,"  or  "  thee  may 
not,  Faith,"  without  ever  a  variation  on  key  or 
pitch ;  her  sympathy  often  unspoken  for  very 
depth ;  and  her  reprimand  as  often  eloquent 
with  expressive  silence.  She  remembered  her 
orderly  and  active  industry,  and  many  a  prac- 
tical lesson  both  of  her  life  and  precept.  And 
she  remembered  the  parting,  when  she  herself 
was  but  nine  years  old.  But  the  only  of  the 
many  last  words  that  remained  distinct  in  her 
memory  were  those  that  she  repeated  to  Mrs. 
Gushing  this  morning :  "  The  Heavenly  Father 
will  have  a  special  care  for  thee,  Faith  dear, 
when  thee  is  orphaned."  And  she  felt  herself 
still  orphaned,  although  for  some  years  under 
the  supervision  of  a  stepmother  of  unimpeach- 
able rectitude. 

**  I  sometimes  think,"  she  said,  "  that  I  have 


The    Departure.  109 

taken  those  words  presumptuously — not  enough 
in  thankfulness  and  humility,  and  the  right  fear 
of  the  good  and  loving  God.  I  have  been 
father's  only  child,  thee  knows,  and  father  never 
could  he  stern  with  me.  But  he  says  it  is  a  trial 
to  him  that  I  should  marry  out  of  the  Society, 
and  I  am  young  yet  to  leave  him." 

"Ethelred  would  not  wish  you  to  marry 
against  your  father's  will,"  said  Mrs.  Gushing, 
"  neither  should  you.  Much  is  sometimes 
gained  to  all  by  patient  waiting  in  such  a  case." 

A  few  minutes  later  the  fragrance  of 
Rebek.ih's  coffee  penetrated  to  the  drawing- 
room,  and  suggested  to  Faith  that  she  must 
have  been  very  stupid  not  to  bethink  herself  of 
expedition  without  a  hint  so  unmistakable. 
She  withdrew  at  once  with  her  accustomed  de- 
corous modesty,  but  without  apology,  knowing 
that  Mrs.  Gushing  did  not  like  apologies  for  un- 
intentional oversight,  —  neither  did  she  herself. 

The  coffee  had  done  for  Mr.  Cushing's  royal 
temper  what  Rebekah's  words  could  not  do ;  so 


110  Ralph's  Possession, 

that  the  breakfast-room  was  quite  luminous 
when  Mrs.  Gushing  entered.  But,  for  an  un- 
usual occurrence,  Ralph  was  missing. 

"  Joan,  did  you  call  Mr.  Ralph  ?  " 

'*  I  went  up  to  his  room  ma'am,  but  got  no 
answer.  I  suppose  maybe  he's  out  setting  Zed 
right,  —  Zed's  quite  out  of  his  head,  like,  this 
morning,  ma'am." 

**  There  !  "  said  Mr.  Gushing,  •»  I  knew  very 
well  something  would  turn  up.  Pretty  well 
this!  to  pack  you  off  with  a  crazy  dinner* 
Joan,  what  is  the  matter  with  Zedekiah?" 

"  Stumbles  over  everything,  sir,  and  quite  for- 
gets what  he  comes  for  till  he  goes  back  without 
it." 

At  this  juncture  Joan  grew  so  uncomfortable 
with  repressed  laughter  that  Mrs.  Gushing  re- 
lieved her  by  sending  her  foi  some  hot  muffins. 
And  in  fact  Zed's  state  of  mind  had  the  effect 
to  finish  what  the  coffee  had  begun.  J  mn's 
manner  of  viewing  the  crisis  was  certainly  hap- 
pier than  either  Jane's  or  their  master's. 


The   Departure.  Ill 

*'  Mamma,"  said  Rebekah,  "  papa's  regard  for 
you  would  have  kept  him  waiting,  but  I  was 
sure  he  ought  not  to  wait  longer.  Haven't  I 
made  a  good  beginning,  papa  ?  " 

4k  Very.  You  have  made  me  quite  comforta- 
ble, Rebekah."  This  was  a  great  deal  for  Mr. 
Gushing  to  express,  and  both  wife  and  daughter 
were  by  so  much  the  happier  for  it. 

"  It  is  all  just  right,  my  dear,"  said  Mrs. 
Cashing.  "  Poor  Faith  !  Did  you  know  I  have 
had  a  call  from  Faith  Hopefield  ?  It  pleased 
me  very  much  that  she  should  come  to  repeat 
the  farewell." 

"Was  that  all  she  came  for,  mamma?'* 

44  No,  dear,  not  all.  You  know  she  has  always 
something  to  tell  me." 

Here  Ralph  entered,  all  aglow  with  the  life 
of  the  fresh  morning,  his  hands  full  of  flowers, 
and  his  heart  full  of  manly  sympathy  for  every 
living  thing.  His  words  fairly  tumbled  over  one 
another  in  description  of  his  walk,  and  in  expla- 
nation and  apology  for  his  tardiness. 


112  Ralph's   Possession. 

**  Oh,  my  ready  Ralph,"  said  Mr.  Gushing, 
"  good  for  an  apology  is  good  for  nothing  else. 
So  says  Doctor  Johnson,  and  he  must  be  right. 
At  least  the  time  was  when  he  must  be  right." 

"Early  Ralph,  punctual  Ralph,"  said  hia 
mother,  "  the  exception  proves  the  rule.  We 
must  all  excuse  your  *  malgre,'  even  the 
apology." 

"  Good  Ralph,"  said  Rebekah,  "  come  quickly, 
do,  and  taste  my  coffee,  —  mine,  Ralph,  a  grand 
success  just  for  once." 

Ralph  found  himself  quite  overwhelmed  with 
epithets.  *'  Ready,  early,  punctual,  good-for-noth- 
ing, good,"  said  he  slowly.  Then  laughing  back 
to  the  first  glow.  "  Good  people,  all,  1  have  a 
stoiy  to  spice  our  breakfast  with.  But  first, 
now,  good  Rebekah,  and  *  quickly,  do  '  taste  of 
my  flowers.  I  could  hardly  make  up  my  mind 
to  bring  you  a  white  japonica  this  morning. 
But  seeing  you  will  prefer  them,  and  wishing  to 
do  just  the  right  thing,  I  have  brought  one." 

Rebekah  knew,  but  the  others  did  not,    why 


The  Departure.  113 

when  he  began  speaking  of  the  japonica  both 
eye  and  voice  softened  a  little. 

"  That  is  so  good  of  you,  Ralph." 

"  But,"  he  continued,  "  1  am  not  going  to 
give  it  to  3rou  in  all  its  own  lone  blankness. 
There  !  with  a  fuchsia  on  one  side  and  two  or 
three  sprigs  of  heliotrope  we  shall  get  both 
ardor  and  fragrance.  That  will  do,"  he  added, 
as  he  placed  them  by  her  on  the  table.  "  And 
mamma,  here  are  some  superb  roses." 

**  Oh,  come  to  your  muffins,  Ralph,'*  inter- 
rupted his  father.  "  What  is  all  this  fuss  about 
flowers  ?  One  would  think  human  flesh  could 
breakfast  on  nectar  !  " 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  yes,  sir !  "  said  Ralph,  with  a  sud- 
den departure  of  both  animation  and  appetite. 

Mrs.  Gushing  said  something  in  joyous  appre- 
ciation of  the  roses ;  while  Rebekah,  unwilling 
that  the  effect  of  the  last  remark  should  remain, 
sent  around  Ralph's  coffee,  and  continued,  — 

"  Metaphysician  ?  poet  ?     What  shall  we  call 

you,  Ralph  dear  ?  I  insist  that  japouicas  are  not 
8 


114  Ralph's  Possession. 

soulless ;  not  even  inexpressive.  They  are 
reticent;  they  do  not  give  out  their  best  self  to 
all  alike.  But  interrogate  them  rightly  and  you 
cannot  want  a  better  acquaintance.  Oh  !  I  like 
them.  I  like  them.  I  do  like  them  !  "  And  she 
took  the  japonica  from  the  other  flowers  only 
for  one  instant.  Then  quickly  placing  all  to- 
gether again  she  added,  "But  I  like  fuchsias 
and  heliotropes  extremely.  And  really  there 
could  not  be  a  more  lovely  combination  than 
this,  with  just  the  one  leaf  of  deep,  deep  green. 
I  shall  keep  these  until  you  come  again,  dear 
brother."  But  here  her  voice  shook  a  little. 
She  could  not  touch  upon  that. 

**  It  is  the  strength  and  lustre  of  its  own 
abiding  green,"  said  Ralph,  "  that  redeems  it, 
and  sustains  your  argument." 

"  Some  *  good  in  everything,'  "  murmured  Mr. 
Gushing,  with  Shakespeare  to  back  him.  As 
Ralph  had  really  fallen  to  work  and  was  partak- 
ing in  good  earnest  of  tangible  substantial  nour- 
ishment, his  father  softened  into  so  much  of  sub- 


The   Departure.  115 

stantial  praise.     "  But  what  about  Zed  ?     Have 
you  seen  him,  Ralph  ?  " 

41  Why  yes,  sir,  I  have  seen  him.  Nothing 
about  him  that  I  know  of.'* 

44  Joan  says  he  is  quite  topsy-turvy  this  morn- 
ing." Poor  Joan  wished  there  were  more 
muffins  wanted. 

44  Oh !  well,  yes,"  said  Ralph,  44  he  was  in  a 
deal  of  trouble  because  he  could  not  remember 
whether  you  had  said  corn  or  oats  for  the  horse 
to-day." 

44  And  what  did  you  say  ?  " 

44 1  told  him  that  I  knew  nothing  about  it.  I 
never  knew  you  to  have  any  choice  for  a  single 
occasion ;  and  I  supposed  oats.'1 

44  There  !  "  said  Mr.  Gushing,  44  You  will  be 
two  smart  men  to  take  care  of  yourselves  and 
an  invalid !  It  will  be  a  wonder  if  you  get 
started,  and  a  greater  wonder  if  you  ever  get 
back.  I  said  corn.  I  should  like  to  see  Zedekiah 
hold  Philip  straight  with  oats  in  him  such  a  morn- 
ing as  this,  when  he  can't  hold  himself  right 
side  up." 


116  Ralph's  Possession. 

This  was  too  much  for  Joan,  who  darted  out 
of  the  room  almost  choked  with  laughter,  in 
which  state  she  appeared  in  the  kitchen,  to  the 
great  scandal  of  Jane  and  Margaret. 

"  Oh,  now  father,"  said  Ralph  quietly,  "  you 
know  there  is  no  horse  steadier  under  a  firm 
rein  than  Philip.  Hasn't  Zed  driven  him  for 
three  years?  And  we  all  know  him  through 
and  through.  I  am  sorry  I  blundered  counter 
to  your  wish,  if  blunder  it  was.  But,  soberly, 
do  you  really  care  so  very  much  ?  " 

"I  don't  care  for  the  mere  fact  of  the  blunder, 
since  there  was  no  disregard.  I  do  apprehend 
the  effect." 

But,  as  nobody  else  did,  there  was  a  brief 
pause  ;  when  Ralph  continued,  — 

'*  Ethel  seems  in  a  woful  way,  too,  this  morn- 
ing." 

"What  has  Ethel  to  trouble  him?"  asked 
Rebekah.  "  I  thought  no  one  had  a  more  quiet 
mind  or  more  glowing  prospects  than  he." 

••  I  don't  know  what,"  said  Ralph.     •*  I  told 


The   Departure.  117 

him  that  you  would  give  him  news  of  us  so  often 
that  he  could  hardly  miss  us.  He  said  it  was  a 
grief  to  have  us  go,  but  that  was  not  all." 

'*  You  have  not  given  us  your  story,  Ralph  " 
said  his  mother,  thinking  it  best  to  turn  the  cur- 
rent another  way. 

"Ah!  I  forgot,"  said  Ralph,  who  by  this  time 
could  eat  no  more.  '*  I  forgot  for  the  moment ; 
you  have  all  kept  me  so  busy.  The  story  is  not 
very  long ;  only  this :  I  met  Professor  Payne 
and  Mr.  Clearwater  at  the  gate.  They  kindly 
took  their  morning  walk  this  way  in  order  to 
wish  us  a  pleasant  journey,  and  also  to  say  that 
in  the  storm  of  night  before  last  the  turnpike 
near  Evans'  Ridge  was  very  badly  washed,  and 
the  bridge  so  broken  that  there  is  no  passing. 
We  must  make  the  first  fifteen  miles  either  by 
Eagle  Dell  or  that  unpleasant  Glenville  road." 

"  There  I "  said  Mr.  Gushing,  "  I  knew  some- 
thing would  happen,  —  something  would  go 
wrong  at  the  start.  You  will  have  to  drive  at 
least  twenty  miles  to  make  fifteen,  by  eithei 


118  Ralph's  Possession. 

of  the  side  roads,  —  such  narrow  turnouts,  —  and 
with  oats,  too  !  " 

"  My  dear  husband,"  interposed  the  mother, 
"  let  us  look  at  it  as  it  is  for  one  moment.  I 
would  not  think  of  the  Glenville  road.  It  is 
both  rough  and  unpretty.  But  the  way  by 
Eagle  Dell  is  really  very  good,  and  through  a 
charming  country.  And  since  Zed  is  reliable, 
and  Philip  is  easily  managed,  and  the  oats  have 
been  eaten,  shall  we  not  accept  things  as  they 
are?  For  my  part,  I  am  very  glad  to  go  by 
Eagle  Dell.  That  was  very  kind,  though,  of 
those  two  good  gentlemen." 

"  Yes,  very,"  said  Mr.  Gushing,  who  had  a 
high  appreciation  of  neighborly  courtesy.  "  But, 
Mrs.  Gushing,  I  know  more  about  oats,  and 
horses,  and  these  country  roads  than  you  do. 
Now,"  he  added,  suddenly  softening,  and  pass- 
ing into  his  most  courtly  manner,  "  what  is 
to  be  done  next  ?  " 

"  We  are  all  ready,  I  think,"  said  Mrs.  Gush- 
ing. "  The  trunks  are  locked,  ready  for  the 


The    Departure.  119 

express  ;  and  our  smaller  luggage  is  easily  gath- 
ered   up.     So   we   have    quite   time   to   read.*' 

Mr.  Gushing  almost  said  pshaw!  But  he 
knew  that  nothing  would  more  surely  or  deeply 
wound  the  wife  he  so  fully  respected,  and  whom, 
somewhere  in  his  heart,  he  really  loved. 

*'  Will  you  join  us  this  morning  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  Yes.  It  is  your  last  morning.  Yes,  I  will 
eome." 

•        •         •         •        •         ••        • 

Ten  o'clock  found  the  last  preparations  com- 
pleted ;  all  the  kisses  pressed,  all  the  farewells 
said.  Mr.  Gushing  not  only  allowed  his  wife  to 
kiss  him,  —  he  actually  kissed  her,  warmly, 
strongly,  tenderly,  once,  —  twice  ;  very  much  as 
he  had  kissed  her  in  days  well  remembered 
twenty-five  years  ago.  The  sweet  impress  of 
this  new  embrace  sank  down,  down,  into  her 
hungry,  weary  heart;  and  never,  never  faded 
out  of  it. 

The  carriage  was  at  the  door.  The  servants 
all  stood  near.  Even,  Joan  showed  signs  of 


120  Ralph's  Possession. 

weeping.  Perm  and  Philip  looked  well.  So 
did  Zed.  The  Eagle  Dell  road  was  decided 
upon,  and  there  were  no  signs  of  anything 
wrong  anywhere.  Mr.  Gushing  took  Ralph  by 
the  hand.  "  You  will  make  good  progress,  I 
have  no  doubt,  during  these  absent  months. 
Write  freely.  And  Ralph,"  he  said  kindly, 
"  put  a  flower  in  your  letters  here  and  there,  to 
Rebekah,  if  not  to  me." 

Ralph  knew  that  he  must  not  seem  to  notice 
the  implied  retraction  of  what  had  been  less 
gently  said  before.  "  Never  fear,  sir,"  he  an- 
swered, "  I  shall  write,  and  I  dare  say  I  shall 
study." 

The  seats  were  taken.  "  Ready,  sir  ?  "  said 
the  impatient  Zed. 

Ralph  excused  the  fellow,  but  took  no  notice. 
He  drew  Rebekah  towards  him  that  he  might 
speak  in  her  ear  softly;  "I  say,  darling  sister, — 
it  is  of  more  value  that  you  pray  than  that  you 
write.  So,  while  you  write,  pray.  And,  mind, 
don't  keep  the  house  so  well  that  papa  will  not 
want  us  back  again." 


The   Departure.  121 

'*  Dear,  naughty  boy !  "  said  his  sister,  with 
a  pat  more  loving  than  resentful,  and  that  made 
his  cheek  tingle. 

The  signal  was  given,  and  the  carriage  rolled 
away. 

•  •  •  ••  •  •  9 

The  reading  of  that  morning  had  been  from 
two  of  the  evangelists,  and  there  was  a  single 
verse  from  each  that  fixed  itself  in  Mr.  Cush- 
ing's  mind.  He  could  not  put  the  words  away. 
The  first :  *'  Blessed  are  the  pure  in  heart,  for 
they  shall  see  God."  The  other :  "  He  that  is 
of  God  heareth  God's  words,  ye  therefore  hear 
them  not  because  ye  are  not  of  God."  The 
first  searching  him  through  as  with  a  scorcliing 
heat.  And  the  other  —  what  could  it  mean  ( 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

COUSIN  CECILIA'S  WELCOME. 

is  not  at  all  necessary  to  our  story  that 
we  follow  the  travellers  through  all  the 
detail  of  their  daily  route.  Devoting 
very  few  words  to  it,  therefore,  we  will 
at  once  join  them  where  they  were  first  intro- 
duced to  us  after  the  broken  axletree  put 
Ralph's  ingenuity  to  the  test  and  sent  them  on 
their  slow  way  to  Mariondale.  From  the  very 
first,  their  chosen  mode  of  travel  proved  of  great 

benefit  to  the  invalid,  who   enjoyed  more  than 
(122) 


Cousin   Cecilia's  Welcome.  123 

she  anticipated ;  more,  indeed,  than  Ralph  had 
ever  seen  her  enjoy  before.  As  he  expressed  it 
when  writing  to  Rebekah,  "  her  enjoyment  took 
on  a  freshness  really  youthful ;  throwing  her 
habitual  serenity,  that  must  ever  prevail,  into 
contrast  all  the  sweeter."  Their  progress  of 
from  twenty-five  to  thirty  miles  a  day,  with  but 
one  or  two  interruptions  from  rain,  brought 
them  to  Ohio  and  their  friends  on  the  Scioto  in 
little  more  than  two  weeks.  Here  they  passed 
only  two  days,  as  the  weather  was  growing 
sensibly  cooler,  and  the  days  shorter.  Thence 
their  route  lay  nearly  due  South  ;  and,  crossing 

the     Ohio   River   at ,   they   proceeded   still 

Southward,  and  a  little  Westward,  through  the 
rich,  lovely  country  of  "  Old  Kentucky,"  the  old- 
est of  the  new  States,  till  they  entered  glowing, 
lavish,  delightful  Tennessee. 

At  the  time  we  left  them  on  the  road  near 
Maiiondale,  they  were  a  day  or  more  south-west 
from  Nashville,  not  far  from  the  east  bank  of  the 
Tennessee  River.  We  now  take  up  our  narra- 
tive from  that  point. 


124  Ralph's  Possession. 

"  Mother,"  said  Ralph,  as  they  approached 
the  village  where  lights  had  been  for  some  time 
visible,  "of  course  the  Stanleys  do  not  know  at 
all  when  to  expect  us;  neither  the  day  nor  the 
hour." 

"Not  the  day,  nor  yet  the  hour,"  replied  his 
mother.  "  True.  But  the  late  hour  will  not 
surprise  them.  You  know  I  wrote  from  Dul- 
wich  that  we  like  to  drive  in  the  moonlight,  and 
might  arrive  at  any  odd  hour.  I  am  bearing  this 
adventure  remarkably  well  —  even  enjoying  it. 
Your  contrivance  in  lieu  of  saddle  is  a  gra'id 
success,  and  the  evening  is  so  warm  and  perfect ! 
It  is  wonderful  how  my  strength  has  increased 
since  leaving  home,  notwithstanding  a  shade  of 
homesickness  here  and  there.  How  dismal  if 
this  had  occurred  of  a  dark  evening !  " 

"  But  we  wouldn't  have  been  driving  of  a 
dark  evening,  you  know,"  suggested  Ralph, 
adding,  **  Can  you  be  sure  of  the  house  ?  You 
have  not  been  here  for  a  very,  very  long  time, 
if  your  last  visit  was,  as  you  say,  when  I  was  a 
little  boy!  How  little  was  I  then?" 


Cousin  Cecilia's  Welcome.  125 

"The  average  size  of  a  four -year-old  Yan- 
kee," said  his  mother  tartly.  "  That  was  not  so 
very  long  ago,  Ralph." 

"  I  dare  say  not,"  said  he,  laughing,  "  but  I 
can  remember  events  later  than  that,  which 
seem  dimly  far  off.  I  do  assure  you  that  the 
hair  on  my  temples  is  sprinkled  with  gray.  I 
pulled  out  two  hairs,  this  morning,  as  silvery  as 
any  old  man's.  This  pursuit  of  law  is  bringing 
me  rapidly  to  a  peaceful  old  age." 

There  was  a  dry  bitterness  in  the  tone  with 
which  Ralph  uttered  these  words.  They  were 
his  first  allusion  to  the  unloved  subject  of  hia 
new  studies  since  the  journey  began.  Their 
conversations,  their  books,  their  interchanged 
delight  in  the  ever-changing  scenery,  had  all 
tended  to  keep  the  theme  out  of  mind,  or  to 
repress  it.  The  remark  that  had  now  escaped 
him  was  half  at  unawares ;  and  his  own  quick 
manner  in  changing  the  subject  forbade  any 
response.  "  Cousin  Cecilia  may  not  be  unpre- 
pared for  the  odd  hour  of  our  arrival,"  he  said, 


126  Ralph's  Possession. 

"but  she  is  certainly  unprepared  for  the  odd 
manner  of  it.  Were  we  only  with  saddle  and 
pillion,  on  one  horse,  the  farce  would  be  com- 
plete." 

But  Mrs.  Gushing  thought  the  scene  very 
complete  as  it  was,  since  she  was  so  uniquely 
mounted,  and  with  a  footman  so  very  knightly. 
She  might  even  be  a  queen. 

44  Oh  yes,  you  might  well  have  been  a 
queen  ! "  said  Ralph. 

Continuing  their  conversation,  they  approached 
the  Stanley  homestead  almost  before  they  were 
aware.  On  the  outskirts  of  the  village  it  stood, 
approached  by  a  carriage-way  embowered  with 
magnolia  and  linden  trees,  and  sweet  with  night- 
blooming  jasmine.  Mrs.  Stanley  was  a  lady  of 
three  or  four  and  forty,  and  now  for  several 
years  a  widow.  Surrounded  with  every  good 
thing  that  wealth,  joined  with  correct  taste, 
could  give,  at  peace  with  all  the  world,  and  full 
of  energy  for  the  duties  of  life.  She  devoted 
herself  ardently  to  the  training  and  happinesa 


Cousin   Cecilia's  Welcome.  127 

of  her  children,  to  the  order  and  prosperity  of 
the  estate,  and  to  the  oversight  and  well-being 
of  her  tenants.  With  all  this  she  sought,  not  in 
vain,  for  opportunity  to  reach,  and  in  some  way 
to  bless,  her  neighbors  near  at  hand  and  those 
far  off.  She  had  strong  affections  and  disaffec- 
tions.  Her  chief  earthly  joy  and  pride  lay  in 
her  children,  in  whose  moral  and  intellectual 
growth  she  was  greatly  and  rightly  absorbed. 
The  oldest,  Grace,  then  on  a  visit  to  an  uncle  in 
San  Francisco,  was  seventeen.  Then  there  were 
Mary,  and  Janie,  and  Frank,  Janie  being  the 
youngest.  The  ages  of  these  three  children, 
physically  beautiful  (which  they  did  not  know), 
and  mentally  bright  (which  they  found  out  for 
themselves),  were  respectively  twelve,  and  ten, 
and  seven. 

It  was  half-past  nine  when  the  travellers  ap- 
proached the  house.  Ralph  intended,  by  all 
means,  to  lift  his  mother  down  near  the  veran- 
dah, and  then  quietly  lead  the  horses  into  the 
shadow  of  the  shrubbery,  after  which  they  would 


128  Ralph's  Possession. 

shake  off  some  of  the  dust  and  appear  in  very 
quiet  garb  at  the  door,  two  tired  pilgrims  solicit- 
ing entrance.  He  would  not,  '  for  the  world,' 
have  his  mother  seen  mounted  in  that  fashion, 
and  would  only  disclose  their  adventure  after 
the  first  salutations  were  over.  But  what  if  the 
house-dog  should  bark  !  That  would  quite  spoil 
their  plan.  Or  if  they  should  meet  any  of  the 
servants,  it  would  be  so  provoking ! 

No.  The  dog  did  not  bark.  He  was  soundly 
asleep  under  the  library  table.  Mrs.  Stanley 
was  sitting  near  with  some  needle-work.  Mary 
was  occupied  likewise,  and  Franky  was  yawning 
over  history,  which  he  disliked,  and  always  put 
off  till  the  other  lessons  were  learned. 

"  It  is  past  your  bed-time,  Franky,"  said  his 
mother.  "  You  are  slow  this  evening.  Mother 
thinks  you  have  studied  long  enough.  You  shall 
get  up  early  to-morrow,  and,  after  a  glass  of 
milk,  you  can  study  awhile  before  breakfast." 

Franky  was  ambitious,  but  he  did  not  ask 
"  Why  mayn't  I  finish  now  ? "  but  said  only, 


Cousin   Cecilia's  Welcome.  129 

**  Yes,  mamma,"  and,  closing  the  book,  he  added 
with  the  air  of  a  philosopher,  "  I  suppose  I 
would  learn  this  old  history  quicker  when  I  am 
not  so  sleepy." 

"  Old  history  ?  "  said  Mary,  "  why,  I  thought 
you  were  studying  modern  history." 

*k  You  know  what  I  mean,  Mary,"  piped  the 
little  fellow.  "  It's  bothersome  !  I  can  learn  it, 
but  1  can't  like  it.  But  you  don't  think  modern 
history  is  young  history,  do  you  ?  I'm  sure  it's 
old  enough,  all  of  it  that  I  ever  heard  of.  And 
I  guess  I  am  in  the  most  ancient  part  of  the 
modern,  now,  —  away  back  in  the  rosy  wars  of 
York  and  Lancaster.  The  idea  of  such  hateful 
people  being  named  for  white  and  red  roses  I  " 

"  Oh,  Franky !  modern  history  begins  long  be- 
fore that, —  ages  before,"  said  Mary,  looking  very 
wise,  and  laughing  because  she  was  trying  to 
look  grave. 

"  Well,"  said  Master  Frank,  ••  I  should  think 
it  had  better  be  called  *  old  history,'  then,  at  that 

rate.     Then  we  shall  have  Ancient,  Old,  Modern, 
9 


130  Ralph's  Possession. 

and  Recent,  that  will  be  young,  will  it  not  ?  You 
must  write  a  history  on  my  plan,  Mary,  when 
you  are  grown  up." 

"  If  you  want  ancient  history,  you  had  better 
read  the  Chinese,"  said  Mary. 

"  Oh,  now,  the  Greek  is  as  old,  I  let  you," 
said  Frank,  "  and  a  great  deal  nicer.  But  the 
Roman,  the  Roman  for  me  !  Hurrah  !  I'm  going 
to  bed." 

"  Franky,"  said  his  mother  gently,  "  I  don't 
like  you  to  say  '  bet '  and  '  I'll  bet  you.'  There 
is  neither  good  feeling  nor  good  taste  in 
that." 

'*  All  the  boys  do  say  so,  mamma,"  said  Frank, 
a  little  irritated.  "  But  I'll  not  say  it,  mamma ; 
I'll  not,"  he  added  ardently,  as  he  met  her  pa- 
tient look. 

At  this  moment  Philip  of  Macedon  neighed 
long  and  loud,  close  to  the  house,  and  again, 
even  louder. 

"  What  is  that  ? n  exclaimed  all  at  once. 

•*I   bet   they've   come,"   cried   Frank.     "Oh, 


Cousin  Cecilia's  Welcome.  131 

mamma,  I  didn't  mean  to  I     What  can  1  say  ? 
I'm  sure  they've  cornel" 

•          •          •         ••••• 

And  at  this  same  moment  poor  Ralph  was  say- 
ing, "  Oh,  Philip  !  Why  didn't  you  wait  another 
minute  ?  just  one  minute  !  Now,  now  mamma ! 
There  !  You  are  safely  down,  and  like  a  feather. 
I  do  believe  it  is  the  smell  of  these  jasmines 
that  makes  Philip  so  provoking.  They  nearly 
intoxicate  me.  Now  they  are  tied,  —  the 
horses  I  mean.  Come  mamma.  What  a  grand 
old  house,  —  but  what  an  arrival !  " 

•         ••••••• 

Mrs.  Stanley  had  checked  Frank's  impulse  to 
rush  to  the  door.  "No,  my  son,"  she  said. 
•'  We  will  not  answer  such  an  equestrian  sum- 
mons. They  would  not  wish  it.  No  doubt  the 
driver  will  ring  presently;  if  indeed  that  was 
one  of  Mr.  Cushing's  perfect  arrivals." 

Ralph,  —  "  the  driver  "  —  was  so  much  in  ad- 
miration of  the  ponderous  old-fashioned  knocker 
that  hung  brightly  polished  where  it  had  hung 


132  Ralph's  Possession. 

for  sixty  years,  that  he  did  not  look  further  for 
a  possible  bell-knob,  and  his  rather  faint  knock 
failed  to  arouse  black  Richard  who  was  nodding 
in  the  dining-room.  Franky  ran  "  to  punch  him 
up,"  as  he  called  it,  and  by  that  time  Ralph's 
better  sense  enabled  him  to  pull  the  bell. 
"  Richard,  hurry !  "  said  Frank,  out  of  breath, 
"  I'm  sure  it  is  some  one  I  want  to  see  very 
much." 

"  Beg  pardon,  Mas'r  Frank,"  said  Richard, 
rubbing  his  eyes  open.  "  Yes,  sir,  right  away." 

In  another  moment  the  guests  were  shown  to 
the  reception  room. 

•         •••          •••• 

*'  Dear  Cousin  Helen  Gushing  !  "  exclaimed 
Mrs.  Stanley,  entering  with  both  hands  extended. 
"  How  good,  how  good  to  see  you  !  And  after 
6O  long  a  time  I  I  had  thought  I  should  be 
quick  enough  to  meet  you  at  the  carriage.  And 
Ralph,  too,  my  cousin  Ralph!  I  can  hardly 
make  it  seem  real,  —  so  like  a  stranger,  aud  yet 
not  a  stranger.  I  am  so  glad,  —  so  glad  to  sea 


Cousin  Cecilia's  Welcome.  133 

you !  These  are  my  Mary,  and  my  Frank.  Do  let 
us  lead  you  to  the  library  where  we  were  sitting. 
It  is  a  pleasanter  room,  and  will  give  you  the 
home  feeling  at  once." 

Of  course  this  was  not  a  connected  speech. 
All  were  speaking  together,  in  that  pure  flow  of 
gladness  and  genial  greeting  that  belongs  to  the 
meeting  of  friend  with  friend,  and  makes  confu- 
sion harmony. 

Mrs.  Stanley  was  anxious  that  Richard  should 
send  Sam  at  once  to  escort  Zed  and  the  horses  to 
the  stables,  and  could  hardly  credit  her  ears  as 
to  the  breaking  down,  and  the  manner  of  ac- 
complishing the  last  two  miles.  And  Zed  sick, 
too !  Then  the  absolute  perfection  of  Mr.  Gush- 
ing's  carriage  had  belied  itself!  The  naughty 
thought  would  come,  but  there  was  too  much 
true  feeling  to  allow  it  spoken. 

Everything  had  to  be  told,  from  the  day  they 
left  home.  And  Franky  waited  so  long  to  hear, 
that  the  mocking-birds  under  his  window  did 
not  wake  him  in  the  morning,  and  he  got  a  bad 
mark  in  history. 


134  Ralph's  Possession. 

When  Ralph  found  himself  alone  in  his  room, 
that  night  he  was  not  at  all  ready  to  sleep.  The 
events  of  the  journey  from  the  beginning,  just 
narrated  in  a  general  way  for  their  cousins'  bene- 
fit, crowded  upon  him  more  in  detail,  and  seemed 
to  him  amazing  in  their  sum  and  sequence.  Not 
that  there  had  been  many  of  striking  import  in 
themselves  considered.  But  the  whole  chain  of 
daily  progress  and  incident ;  the  variety  of  pleas- 
ant trifling  adventures  without  one  mishap  or 
hindrance  until  the  very  last ;  the  smooth  pro- 
cession of  each  day's  stage  as  planned  ;  and 
above  all,  the  happy  advance  already  made  in  his 
mother's  condition ;  all  this  filled  him  with  won- 
der. Then  the  good  news  from  home  (they  had 
found  letters  in  Nashville  two  days  back)  seemed 
to  render  everything  complete.  In  all,  and  in 
everything  there  was  diversion,  life,  happiness; 
yet  Ralph  confessed,/^,  that  he  was  not  happy. 
Miserable  he  certainly  was  not ;  but  he  was  not 
at  rest;  and  to  him  rest  seesied  the  essential 
quality  of  happiness  —  the  desideratum  of  exia- 


Cousin   Cecilia's  Welcome.  135 

tence  —  the  prime  condition  toward  complete 
being  and  efficient  work.  Then  all  those  con- 
versations with  Rebekah  passed  through  his 
mind.  Those  words,  "  You  will  never  be  at 
rest  until  you  are  sure  of  it,  too/'  sounded 
strangely  then  as  now.  "  They  were  naturally 
enough  spoken,"  he  thought  ;  "  spoken  in 
response  to  my  question  if  she  was  sure  of  the 
Godhead  of  Jesus.  Yet  I  think  I  could  not  ask 
that  question  now.  That  is,  I  suppose  I  am  sure 
of  it,  since  I  am  sure  I  do  not  doubt  it.  But 
it  cannot  seem  to  me  as  it  does  to  her.  It  is  not 
*  precious,'  as  mother  would  say.  I  cannot  think 
mere  credence  given  to  a  dogma  is  what  God 
esteems  as  faith.  Even  admitting  that  the  One 
who  '  upholds  all  things  bv  the  word  of  His 
power,'  is  the  one  who  'by  Himself  purged 
His  people's  sins,'  how  can  I  know  that  I  am  one 
of  those  '  purged  '  ones  ?  Rebekah  says  this  is 
not  to  be  gotten,  it  is  to  be  received  ;  or  rather, 
she  said  that  He,  Himself,  the  Redeemer,  is  to 
be  received.  But  I  am  sure  He  is  not  one  of  my 


136  Ralph's  Possession. 

acquaintances.  And  He  never  can  be  one  till  He 
is  the  chief  one ;  I  am  equally  sure  of  that." 

Ralph  had  never  thought  it  unmanly  to  bend 
the  knees  before  God.  He  had  always  thought 
the  refusal  to  do  so  unworthy  of  true  man- 
hood. But  he  was  not  always  able  to  do  it ; 
either  from  the  sore,  sore  sense,  or  that  blank 
want  of  sense,  that  he  had  no  heart  in  it ;  or, 
though  the  heart  was  in  need  of  speaking,  a 
strange  feeling  that  he  could  not  reach  God. 
To  such  mental  frames  the  believer  in  Jesus 
—  the  child  crying  '  Father  '  —  need  not  yield  ; 
because  the  new  and  living  way  which  God  has 
opened  is  always  open,  and  faith  is  more  than 
feeling.  The  mind  of  God  does  not  change  con- 
cerning this. 

But  this  evening  Ralph's  heart  was  too  full 
for  anything  else  than  a  kneeling  and  an  utter- 
ance. He  knelt.  He  made  no  record  of  what 
was  said,  and  we  make  no  inquiry.  He  had  no 
vision,  and  arose  much  as  he  had  knelt;  with 
longing  unrelieved.  Yet  he  was  not  tempted  to 


Cousin  Cecilia's  Welcome.  137 

impugn  God's  compassion,  nor  to  think  that  He 
did  not  listen.  But  those  great  questions  con- 
cerning the  forgiveness  of  Sins,  life  in  Christ, 
and  the  possession  of  it,  —  fellowship  with  the 
risen  Jesus  ;  when  would  these  be  settled  ? 

As  he  lay  down,  the  words  came  to  his  mind 
—  '  Unto  you,  therefore  who  believe,  He  is  pre- 
cious.' "  I  wonder,"  thought  he,  "  I  wonder 
what  this  believing  is  ?  " 

Poor  Ralph  I     He  was  always  thinking,  think 

tog. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

FREDERICK    JAMESON. 

EXT  morning,  at  breakfast,  there  was 
naturally  a  great  deal  said,  or  said  over 
again,  about  home  and  the  journey. 
The  visit  in  Ohio,  and  the  progress 
through  Kentucky,  were  especially  discussed. 
Zed,  left  in  Nashville,  seemed  to  Mrs.  Stanley 
suggestive  as  illustrating  one  difference  between 
free  service  and  bond  service. 

"  When  our  servants  are  sick,"  she  said,  "  we 
feel  bound  to  take  care  of  them.  The  compar- 
ison must  not  seem  odious.  I  do  not  know 

whether  our  way  be  owing  to  the  interest  of 
(138) 


Frederick  Jameson.  139 

ownership,  or  to  some  other  difference   in  the 
two  cases.'* 

Mrs.  Gushing  thought  the  matter  of  self- 
interest  not  necessarily  a  selfish  one  after  all. 
Propert}'  in  anything  enhances  interest,  and 
rightly  so.  But  viewed  in  the  light  of  philan- 
thropy, the  cases  should  be  exactly  equal.  They 
had  remained  with  Zed  a  day,  and  then,  finding 
he  had  been  right  in  supposing  that  some  old 
acquaintances  were  living  in  Nashville,  and  that 
they  were  quite  glad  to  give  him  a  room  and 
take  care  of  him,  he  had  begged  that  he  might 
not  be  a  hindrance  to  their  progress  if  Ralph 
preferred  driving  to  waiting.  The  physician 
had  thought  he  would  not  be  severely  sick,  but 
might  be  unfit  to  proceed  for  several  days.  He 
had  contracted  fever  and  ague  on  the  way,  to- 
gether with  a  cold  from  a  severe  wetting. 

"It  is  quite  a  marvel,"  said  Mrs.  Stanley, 
"  that  you  did  not  all  get  fever  and  ague  driving 
so  much  in  the  evening,  and  in  an  open  carriage. 
Did  you  not  know  it  is  a  great  exposure  in  some 
localities?  " 


140  Ralph's  Possession, 

"  Yes,"  said  Mrs.  Gushing,  "  I  confess  we  did 
know  it.  But,  as  Doctor  Saywell  had  instructed 
us  how  to  guard  ourselves  with  quinine  if  there 
should  be  any  such  exposure,  I  felt  quite  per- 
suaded that  we  were  safe.  The  days  have  been 
so  uncomfortable,  and  the  nights  so  superb  !  I 
must  exonerate  Ralph." 

"You  are  very  good  to  exonerate  me,  mother," 
said  Ralph,  "  but,  after  all,  since  you  are  in  my 
care,  I  am  responsible.  Rebekah  would  not  let 
me  off  so  easily,  —  the  good,  prudent  Rebekah  ! 
Really,  mamma,  I  had  thought  that  Rebekah's 
guardianship  would  enrich  your  way  more  than 
mine.  But  with  her  curacy  you  would  not  have 
been  allowed  these  moonlight  gambols  ;  I  am 
quite  sure  of  that.  As  for  Zed,  he  would  not 
cake  the  quinine.'* 

"  Our  servants  do  as  they  are  told,"  inter- 
posed Frank. 

"Ah!  But  Zed  was  not  Hold,'  Franky," 
replied  Ralph  good-naturedly. 

"  Oh,  Franky   boy  I  "  said   his  poor  mother. 


Frederick  Jameson.  141 

And  then  addressing  the  others,  "  You  must  ex- 
cuse him,  —  I  trust  you  will.  He  is  too  much 
with  rough  boys  at  school.'* 

"  Why  I  Was  that  rude,  mamma  ?  "  asked 
Frank.  '*  I  said  only  what  was  exactly  true.  I 
didn't  feel  rude." 

There  was  a  laugh  at  this,  and  Frank  felt 
quite  restored. 

•  ••••• 

There  had  yet  been  no  account  of  Ralph's 
plot  for  delaying  their  arrival  by  an  appeal  to 
the  hospitality  of  the  house  by  the  way.  Black 
Sam,  with  Ned  (who  was  quite  a  smithy  and 
general  tinker),  had  been  sent  at  an  early  hour 
with  the  two  horses,  to  bring  the  broken-down 
carnage.  Some  allusion  to  this  brought  out  thv3 
omitted  episode. 

"  I  thought,"  said  Ralph,  "  that  it  would  be 
safer  for  mother  than  so  long  a  ride  on  horse- 
back. And  then  it  would  have  added  so  much 
to  the  adventure !  Anything  for  adventure  I 
1  mean,  of  course,  anything  reasonable." 


142  Ralph's  Possession* 

"  But  really  I  "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Stanley,  "  the 
idea  of  spoiling  us  of  the  pleasure  of  receiving 
you  just  when  and  as  you  came !  True,  your 
thought  for  your  mother  was  good.  But  she  has 
not  suffered  ;  so  I  am  at  liberty  to  be  very  glad 
chat  you  came  on.  You  would  have  been  well 
received  at  the  white  house,  no  doubt;  indeed, 
more  than  well  received.  They  are  a  very 
estimable,  well-bred  family.  Great  friends  of 
Franky,  too." 

"  Why,  where  was  it,  mamma?"  asked  Frank. 

"  From  Cousin  Ralph's  description,  the  house 
must  have  been  the  Jamesons'." 

"  No  ?  You  don't  say  so !  Oh,  I  wish  you 
had  gone  there,  Cousin  Ralph.  Fred  Jameson 
is  a  bully  fellow." 

"  Franky,  that  is  not  a  word  for  you  to  use, 
my  dear  boy !  Besides,  if  words  mean  anything, 
Frederick  Jameson  is  not  that.  Can't  you  give 
your  cousin  a  better  portrait  of  him  ?  " 

"  Oh,  I  reckon  I  might,  if  I  had  some  chalk 
and  a  blackboard,"  said  the  naughty  Frank,  with 


Frederick  Jameson.  143 

a  shy  look  at  his  mother  to  see  if  he  must  beg 
pardon  for  his  fun. 

"Try  what  you  can  do  with  your  tongue, 
Franky,"  said  Ralph.  "  A  word-portrait  is 
sometimes  very  good." 

"  Fred  Jameson  is  Mr.  Jameson,  properly," 
said  Frank,  drawing  himself  up  on  his  friend's 
behalf.  "  But  I  remember  him  since  he  was 
seventeen,  and  so  I  have  always  called  him 
*  Fred.'  He  is  twenty-three  now.  He  is  tall 
enough,  and  handsome  enough,  but  not  remark- 
ably tall  nor  remarkably  handsome.  He  has 
brown  hair,  and  no  particular  kind  of  eyes  that 
I  know  of.  Perhaps  what  you  call  gray  eyes. 
Now  is  he  drawn  sufficiently,  Cousin  Ralph  ?  " 

"  Why,  yes,"  said  Ralph  pleasantly,  "  I  think 
you  have  done  all  that  the  chalk  could  do,  and 
more.  But  of  other  points,  —  qualities,  charac- 
teristics, and  so  on.  What  makes  you  like 
him?" 

"  Oh,  I  don't  know  1 "  sighed  Frank,  "  I  can't 
help  itl" 


144  Ralph's  Possession. 

"  There  is  something  lovable  about  him," 
said  Mrs.  Stanley,  "and  something  that  com- 
mands respect.  That  is  the  long  and  short  of 
it.  He  takes  care  of  his  mother  and  sister. 
His  father  was  a  small  planter,  but  died  in- 
volved, and  most  of  the  estate  was  sold.  Fred- 
erick, with  his  younger  brother  and  one  servant, 
carries  on  what  remains.  He  also  has  great 
fondness  for  carpentry  and  joinery-work,  and 
fills  up  odd  hours  with  that.  The  strange 
thing  is,  that  with  all  this  activity  and  practical 
ability,  and  with  a  deal  of  general  reading,  he 
is  at  once  the  most  meditative  and  the  most 
delightful  character  that  one  could  well  find,  — 
nothing  sombre  about  him,  —  nothing  unmanly. 
Such  a  character  could  hardly  be  drawn  in  a 
book  without  perpetual  inconsistencies.  But 
there  it  is,  a  living  fact." 

"  Quite  a  character,  indeed !  "  exclaimed  Mrs. 
Cushing. 

"  Yet  no  prodigy,  I  dare  say,"  said  Ralph. 
•As  a  rule  prodigies  are  detestable." 


Frederick  Jameson.  145 

**  Oh,  nothing  detestable  about  it,"  said  Frank, 
looking  very  red,  first  with  anger,  and  then  with 
shame  that  he  had  been  angry.  "But  mamma 
has  not  told  the  best." 

"  What  is  the  best  ?  "  asked  Mrs.  Gushing 
and  Ralph  together. 

"  He  preaches,"  said  Frank. 

'*  He  does  what  ?     Preaches  ?  " 

Mrs.  Stanley  laughed,  and  assured  them  that 
Frank  had  made  no  mistake.  The  young  man 
had  fair  gifts,  and  a  great  love  for  Gospel  work ; 
and  held  a  license  to  preach  given  him  by  some 
ministerial  convention.  He  now  often  held  re- 
ligious services  as  he  found  opportunity,  —  some- 
times in  the  open  air. 

"  This  is  very  interesting !  "  said  Mrs.  Gush- 
ing. "But  he  is  very  young.  Do  you  feel  sure 
it  is  all  well-judged  and  stable  ? " 

"  Oh,  no  doubt  of  it  whatever.  He  has  been 
well  tested  now,  and  is  occasionally  called  upon 
to  supply  some  pulpit." 

"It  is  quite  evident  that  he  is  no  upstart," 
10 


146  Ralph's  Possession. 

said  Mrs.  Gushing.  "  But  he  is  very  young  to 
be  in  such  a  work,  and  so  much  noticed.  In 
general,  one  would  be  what  we  call  'spoiled,' 
under  such  circumstances." 

"  I  think  not,"  said  Mrs.  Stanley,  "  where 
there  is  a  real  work  of  God  in  the  soul,  and  the 
individual  is  absorbed  rather  with  God's  glory  in 
Redemption  than  with  his  own  position  or  gifts. 
Frederick  very  well  said,  in  one  of  his  recent 
addresses,  that  religion  is  more  than  excitement 
or  impulse,  —  more,  even,  than  great  emotions 
and  purposes ;  more  than  regrets  and  aspira- 
tions. It  is  thought,  —  earnest  thought,  living 
thought,  sober,  divine ;  such  thought  as  God 
gives ;  thought  that  has  the  mind  of  Christ. 
Hence,  he  said,  if  we  would  use  terms  correctly, 
as  God  always  does  use  them,  religion  is  more 
than  conversion.  Conversion  is  a  turning  again 
in  the  right  direction ;  a  turning  toward  God. 
Religion  is  a  binding  again  ;  a  binding  of  heart, 
thought,  life  to  God,  —  that  is,  to  Christ  Jesus, 
by  whose  spirit  we  cry  to  the  Father.*  Thia 

•E.  g.  compare  John  xiv.  6,  with  Galatians  iv. 


Frederick  Jameson.  147 

state,  he  said,  is  a  new  state, — the  result  of  a 
new  creation,  a  sovereign  work.  It  is  always 
thoughtful,  for  it  has  the  mind  of  Christ.  It  is 
always  active  and  self-possessed,  for  it  has  the 
love  and  the  Spirit  of  Christ.  The  man  who  is 
filled  with  it  seeks  to  bless  and  to  comfort,  to  lift 
up  and  to  save  ;  because,  being  himself  saved,  he 
has  become  debtor  to  all.  And  while  in  the 
world,  he  yet  seeks  to  keep  himself  unspotted 
from  it  as  responsible  to  the  Lord  whom  the 
world  still  crucifies." 

'* 1  might  repeat  much  more.  His  speaking  ia 
with  singular  clearness  and  vigor,  and  his  ex- 
pressions easily  remembered." 

"  Do,  then,  give  us  some  more,  by  all  means," 
gaid  Mrs.  Gushing. 

*'  I  don't  know  about  giving  you  a  sermon  foi 
breakfast,"  said  Mrs.  Stanley,  laughing. 

"  Oh,  never  fear  !  "  said  Ralph,  "  we  shall  eat 
our  breakfast.  I  join  mamma  in  asking  for 
more." 

.  Stanley  continued  :     "  Of  course  I  give 


148  Ralph's  Possession. 

you  the  merest  abstract.  '  This  binding  to  God,' 
he  said,  '  is  unlike  any  other  bondage.  It  is  not 
of  earth,  but  of  heaven.  It  is  the  normal  state 
of  the  creature,  and  profoundly  so  of  the  re- 
deemed creature.  It  is  the  sweetest  and  most 
absolute  servitude,  flowing  out  of  adoption  to 
the  now  loved  object  of  worship.  Every  re- 
sponsibility of  the  soul  toward  God  is  enhanced 
by  redemption,  as  truly  as  every  relationship  is 
endeared.  The  human  life  of  Christ  does  not 
derogate  from,  but  interprets  God's  sovereignty. 
If  God  be  infinite,  then  His  sovereignty  is  in- 
finite. And  if  all  of  God  be  absolute  then  His 
sovereignty  is  so.  Him,  therefore,  the  soul,  will- 
ing or  unwilling,  is  bound  to  serve.  And  to 
Him  the  willing  soul  is  bound  ;  but  by  what 
endearing  bonds !  since  He  is  reached  by  the 
Way,  the  Truth  and  the  Life,  —  the  risen,  living, 
everlasting  witness  that  sin  has  been  put  away.' 
"  And  towards  the  close  of  the  sermon  were 
these  words :  '  Religion  then,  dear  friends,  01 
the  state  that  the  word  indicates,  is  thou<  *tf 


Frederick  Jameson,  149 

but  it  is  thought  in  the  mind  of  Christ ;  thought 
that  lives  outward,  —  that  breathes  and  acts ; 
having  its  life  in  and  from  the  Lord  of  life,  the 
Saviour.'  " 

Mrs.  Stanley  had  given  them  quite  a  dis- 
course ;  of  which,  indeed,  none  of  them  were 
weary.  But  Mary,  seeing  that  Mrs.  Gushing 
and  Ralph  were  silent,  ventured  to  say  :  — 

"  Mother  can  quote  Frederick  Jameson  by  the 
hour.  I  don't  comprehend  how  she  does  it." 

41  Oh,  not  by  the  hour  dear  child,"  said  her 
mother.  "Frederick  never  speaks  an  hour.  I 
confess  to  retaining  what  he  says  more  readily 
than  what  I  hear  from  some  others." 

"  Indeed  you  have  quite  favored  us,"  said, 
Mrs.  Gushing  sincerely. 

Ralph  thought  the  best  of  all  was  near  the 
first ;  those  words  —  *  Religion  is  more  than 
great  emotions  and  purposes.  It  is  thought; 
living,  sober,  divine.'  "  Was  not  that  well  said, 
mother?"  he  asked. 

Mrs.  Gushing  hesitated,  and  then   answered, 


150  Ralph'*  Possession. 

•*  Yes,  as  it  was  amplified  afterward.     It  would 
not  so  well  stand  alone." 

Ralph  looked  incredulous.  He  thought  a 
proposition  that  could  not  stand  alone  hardly 
worthy  of  support.  "Doubtless,"  he  said,  "you 
know  more  about  it  than  I  do." 

Mrs.  Stanley  looked  at  him  inquisitively,  but 
said  nothing. 

The  breakfast  passed  off  pleasantly.  Frank 
begged  to  be  excused,  that  he  might  have  a  few 
minutes  with  the  respected,  disagreeable  history 
before  school.  Little  Janie  crept  around  shyly 
to  Ralph,  and  put  her  hand  in  his,  regarding  him 
with  a  very  wondering  pair  of  large  hazel  eyes. 
It  did  not  take  long  to  make  his  acquaintance ; 
and,  her  lessons  being  with  her  mother,  she 
begged  for  a  little  time  to  lead  cousin  Ralph  to 
see  her  rabbits  and  other  pets.  This  being 
granted,  the  two  ladies  withdrew  to  the  library. 

The  library  was  so  called  rather  by  courtesy 
than  otherwise,  and  because  the  word  sitting 
room  was  not  in  vogue  with  the  Stanleys.  It 


Frederick  Jameson.  151 

was  light  and  spacious ;  and,  having  windows 
on  sou  h  and  east,  was  by  far  the  pleasanter 
family  room  for  winter  than  either  of  the  par- 
lors \vhich  were  lighted  the  one  from  the  north 
and  east,  the  other  from  the  north  ;  the  house 
facing  east.  One  side  only  of  this  winter  hab- 
itat was  devoted  to  book-shelves,  which,  in 
keeping  with  the  furniture,  were  of  oak.  One 
window,  only  one,  was  filled  with  flowering 
plants.  Mrs.  Stanley  said  that  she  had  no  fancy 
for  living  either  in  bower  or  booth;  that  she 
must  have  unobstructed  daylight  on  at  least  one 
side,  and  a  firm  sense  of  something  solidly 
architectural  about  her.  This  was  quite  essen- 
tial, she  thought,  to  anything  like  a  due  appre- 
ciation of  our  advantages  as  creatures  of  a 
civilized  age.  But  against  the  book-shelves  was 
trained  a  magnificent  English  ivy  of  most  lux- 
uriant growth,  that  went  branching  upward  and 
outward  in  such  provoking  profusion  that  it 
taxed  all  the  ingenuity  of  the  combined  family 
to  keep  it  so  trained  as  to  allow  free  access  to 


152  Ralph's  Possession. 

the  books.  These  looked  all  the  more  attractive 
and  good  for  something  under  the  bright  shade 
of  the  branching  green.  And,  to  the  credit  of 
the  family  be  it  said,  they  were  not  only  well 
kept,  but  they  were  well  read  also.  Their  con- 
tents often  afforded  themes  for  conversation  that 
lasted  for  days,  and  sent  the  children  explor- 
ing up  and  down  the  shelves  to  get  some  ques- 
tion answered.  A  small  library,  if  well  selected 
and  intelligently  used,  is  one  of  the  greatest  of 
earthly  goods.  So  thought  Mrs.  Stanley,  and  so 
the  children  were  early  learning.  The  only 
inmates  of  the  room  who  never  read  were  Rex 
the  spaniel,  and  Jack  the  canary.  But  Rex 
had  the  appearance  of  thinking  a  great  deal ; 
and  Jack  was  happy  with  his  observations  and 
his  song. 

Ralph  was  delighted  to  be  led  by  Janie,  who, 
in  her  turn  was  very  proud  to  lead  Cousin 
Ralph.  She  proved  a  very  entertaining  escort ; 
her  prattle  being  rather  be}rond  her  years,  with- 
out the  least  self-consciousness  or  affectation,  — 


Frederick  Jameson.  153 

the  simple  outflow  of  well-trained  feelings  in  a 
child  of  ardent  temperament  and  bright  intelli- 
gence. And  Ralph  proved  a  good  listener ;  in- 
terested and  responsive.  This  was  what  made 
him  so  delightful  a  companion  to  all,  old  and 
young  alike.  He  not  only  knew  how  to  talk, 
but  he  knew  how  to  listen.  The  one  is  as  es- 
sential as  the  other  to  good  companionship,  and 
even  to  the  discharge  of  common  courtesy.  It 
was  his  attentiveness  and  his  suggestive  re- 
sponses that  held  Janie  to  him  this  morning, 
though  the  charm  did  not  define  itself  to  her 
notice  and  she  probably  could  not  have  explained 
it  to  herself.  Before  they  reached  the  rabbits 
they  were  turned  aside  in  two  or  three  directions 
by  different  objects,  of  interest  to  both.  Susan's 
boy  Ben,  —  the  blackest  boy  that  Ralph  had 
ever  seen,  —  was  feeding  them  with  some  dry 
crusts  and  some  clover.  There  were  two  white 
ones,  and  two  black  with  white  paws. 

"  Aren't   they   pretty,    Cousin  Ralph  ? "    said 
Janie.     "  And  so  tame !  and  so  clean  !  and  so 


154  Ralph's  Possession. 

soft !  And  oh,  Cousin  Ralph,  they  are  so  "know- 
ing !  They  know  Ben  from  me  right  away." 

Ralph  had  to  laugh  a  little  at  this.  "  Yes, 
Janie,"  he  said,  "  they  are  beauties,  and  I  dare 
say  they  know  a  great  deal.  But  there  is  a 
great  difference  between  you  and  Ben." 

"  Ben,"  said  Janie  thoughtfully,  "  this  black 
one  is  exactly  as  black  as  you.  But  then  you 
haven't  white  paws,  Ben,  so  you  are  the  black- 
est." 

"  Oh,  now,  Miss  Janie,*'  chuckled  Ben,  "  that's 
too  good !  But  Miss  Janie  is  part  way  mistaken. 
I'se  got  big  whites  to  my  eyes,  and  plenty  of 
white  teeth.  I  reckon  him  and  me  are  about 
even."  Here  Ben  fell  into  hilarious  merriment 
that  showed  his  white  teeth  to  enormous  advan- 
tage. Janie  went  on  about  the  rabbits. 

"  They  are  so  pretty  when  feeding,  Cousin 
Ralph!  They  feed,  but  we  eat.  I  never  thought 
of  that.  What  makes  the  difference?  Why 
don't  we  feed?" 

Ralph  smiled.  "  Some  persons  do,  Janie,"  he 
said. 


Frederick  Jameson.  155 

"  How  ?  Tell  me,  please,  Cousin  Ralph.  What 
is  the  difference  ?  " 

Ralph  laughed  again.  "  Eating,"  he  said, 
"admits  of  conversation;  feeding  does  not.  As 
the  rabbits  have  no  occasion  to  converse,  they 
commit  no  breach  of  good  manners  in  devoting 
their  whole  attention  to  their  food." 

u  Then  a  man  who  forgets  everything  while 
he  eats,  just  to  attend  to  that,  is  feeding.  Is 
that  what  you  mean,  Cousin  Ralph  ? " 

"  It  is  as  well  to  say  so,"  said  Ralph.  "  At 
all  events,  it  would  be  good  for  him  to  mend  his 
ways." 

Janie  was  stroking  a  rabbit  with  each  hand. 
"  How  pink  their  ears  are,"  she  said.  "  And 
they  are  always  moving  them.  There  must  be 
some  nice  arrangement,  that  they  can  put  them 
forward  or  backward  as  they  choose.  How 
strange  that  they  should  like  crusts  and  clover, 
and  eat  one  as  well  as  the  other !  We  could 
eat  the  crusts  very  well,  but  I  don't  think  we 
could  eat  the  clover.  I  suppose  it  must  be  that 
it  tastes  different  to  them." 


156  Ralph's  Possession. 

'*  In  general  we  dislike  what  is  not  suited  to 
us,"  said  Ralph. 

"  But  we  do  eat  some  green  things,"  replied 
Janie.  **  In  the  spring  we  eat  watercresses." 

"  Yes ;  but  spring  clover  you  could  not  per- 
suade yourself  to  eat  if  you  tried." 

"  But  is  it  only  that  one  tastes  good  and  the 
other  does  not  ?  "  asked  Janie. 

"  No,"  said  Ralph.  "  Our  taste  most  often 
determines  our  selection.  But  our  experience 
would  teach  us  to  reject  the  clover,  if  we  ate  it 
once." 

This  was  a  little  beyond  Janie,  who  looked 
puzzled.  Ralph,  seeing  this,  added,  kindly, 
"  You  must  get  your  mamma  to  give  you  some 
first  lessons  in  physiology,  where  you  will  find 
some  of  your  perplexities  cleared  up." 

"  I  will,"  said  Janie,  "  for  I  want  to  understand 
these  things.  Physi  —  what  did  you  say,  Cousin 
Ralph  ?  " 

"  Physi  —  ology,"  said  Ralph,  slowly,  as  they 
walked  away. 


Frederick  Jameson.  157 

Janie  was  sure  the  half-hour  was  not  up  ;  her 
mother  had  given  her  half  an  hour.  And  as 
Ralph's  watch  declared  that  they  had  yet  ten 
minutes  the  child  must  needs  show  him  where  the 
oriole's  nest  hung.  It  had  been  inhabited  by 
a  large  family  this  year;  all  now  fledged,  and 
grown,  and  flown  away.  Two  were  brighter  than 
the  others.  There  it  hung  on  the  twig  of  a 
quince-bush ;  a  strange  place  for  an  oriole  to 
build.  There  were  others  in  the  oak  trees  and 
the  tallest  lindens,  but  this  one  yearly  built  in 
this  green  spot. 

"  This  one,  or  some  one.  How  long  do  they 
live  ?  "  asked  the  child. 

"  Indeed  I  don't  know,  Janie.  You  must  put 
me  into  ornithology." 

"  Ornithology  I  Cousin  Ralph  I  You  make 
long  words.  What  is  that  ?  " 

Ralph  laughed.  "  The  classification  of  birds,'* 
he  said,  "  and  their  natural  history  is  called 
ornithology." 

"  Well,   I  don't  know  what  classification  is," 


158  Ralph's  Possession. 

said  Janie,  looking  funnily  sober;  "butlsup« 
pose  natural  history  is  the  history  of  their  nat- 
ural lives.  And  that  would  tell  us  how  long 
they  live.  Are  all  birds  called  '  sparrows,' 
Cousin  Ralph?" 

"  Why  no,  Janie,"  said  Ralph,  "  no  more  than 
they  are  all  called  orioles.  What  put  that  in 
your  head?" 

"  Oh,  people  speak  so  sometimes,"  said  Janie. 
u  They  say  *  God  feeds  the  sparrows.'  And 
Jesus  says  that  our  Heavenly  Father  does  not 
forget  one  of  them.  I  always  thought  it  meant 
all  birds." 

**  Yes,  Janie,  yes ;  it  does  mean  all  these," 
said  Ralph  quickly,  astonished  at  the  child  and 
ashamed  of  himself.  "But,"  he  added,  "I 
suppose  Jesus  spoke  of  them  there  as  being 
among  the  very  sweetest  birds,  —  so  small  that 
two  were  sold  for  a  farthing.  Even  the  smallest 
one  not  forgotten  before  God.  By  this  we  may 
be  sure  He  does  not  overlook  the  least  of  us." 

44 1  thought  so,"  said  Janie. 


Frederick  Jameson.  159 

"  But,  Janie,  are  you  sure  that  God  Himself 
feeds  every  one  of  these  little  birds  ?  " 

Janie  looked  up.  The  hazel  eyes  pierced  him. 
His  own  quivered  before  their  steadiness.  They 
smote  him  ;  they  held  him.  Unconsciously  both 
stopped  in  their  walk.  Inquiry,  perplexity, 
pain,  all  this  was  in  those  upturned  eyes.  Then 
she  drew  his  hand  that  he  might  sit  with  her  on 
the  gra*s,  and,  putting  her  head  on  his  knee, 
she  burst  into  weeping. 

"  Why,  Janie  I  "  he  said,  "  little  Janie  !  "  — 
and  his  own  voice  grew  unsteady,  —  "  how  is 
this?  I  would  not  put  the  question  just  so, 
perhaps.  I  think  we  are  both  sure  of  it.  But 
I  don't  know  how,  I  am  sure  of  it ;  and  I  thought 
you  might  help  me." 

The  faith  of  a  child,  or  a  child-like  faith,  in 
the  case  of  any  one  unaccustomed  to  sophistry, 
is  alarmed  and  bewildered  at  the  first  hint  of 
skepticism  regarding  anything  divinely  true  and 
already  received.  Janie  had  never  heard  such  a 
question  raised  before ;  and,  being  perfectly 


160  Ralph's  Possession. 

happy  in  her  belief  of  all  the  words  of  Jesus, 
she  was  startled, — first  into  an  unconscious 
dignity  of  bewildered  feeling,  and  then  into  a 
revulsion  of  weeping.  It  is  not  in  a  child  to 
speak  soon  again  after  such  a  commotion ;  and 
there  were  several  minutes  of  silence,  seeming 
longer  to  the  distressed  Ralph  than  to  her. 

"  Janie,  my  poor  little  Janie,  we  must  go," 
he  said. 

"  No,  Cousin  Ralph,  not  yet.  Mamma  will 
excuse  me.  I  didn't  know  I  was  going  to  cry. 
What  strange  questions  you  ask  me  !  Am  I  sure, 
or  how  am  I  sure  of  something  that  Jesus  says  ? 
I  never  thought  of  it  before.  He  is  the  Lord, 
and  knows  all  things.  I  am  sure  of  everything 
He  says  because  He  says  it." 

To  Ralph  there  seemed  nothing  weak  in  this 
anreasoning  trust ;  only  the  quality  of  something 
greater  than  human,  as  if  divinely  imparted. 
The  judgment  of  all  men,  learned  and  unlearned, 
places  the  authority  of  conscience  above  that  of 
reason,  and  the  moral  nature  over  the  intel- 


Frederick  Jameson.  161 

lectual.  And  of  all  moral  qualities  the  highest 
is  that  of  faith  in  God,  —  that  quality  which 
listens  when  God  speaks.  Ralph  felt  this, 
and  that  his  own  intellectual  difficulties,  which 
he  sometimes  fancied  lustrous,  were  palling 
before  this  light,  and  discovering  their  own 
deformity.  He  had  already  shivered  in  the 
apprehension  of  having  caused  "  one  of  these 
little  ones  "  to  stumble.  And  now  the  words 
that  his  mother  had  read  on  that  last  morning  at 
home  came  to  his  mind;  "He  that  is  of  God 
heaieth  God's  words." 

"  This  child  hears  the  words  of  Christ  and  of 
God,"  he  thought, "  in  a  way  that  I  do  not ;  and. 
I  do  not  find  how  to  do  it.  *  He  that  believeth 
shall  not  make  haste.'  That  not  making  hatte 
certainly  signifies  a  state  of  quietness,  —  a  quiet- 
ness that  is  not  at  all  expressed  by  unconcern, 
but  by  settledness  —  rest  —  rest  under  the  shadow 
of  the  Almighty.  I  have  seen  it  in  my  mother  ; 
in  Rebekah;  and  now  here  it  is  in  this  little 
12 


1C2 


Ralph's  Possession. 


child.     The  least  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is 
greater  than  the   sages." 

•         •          •••••• 

This  time   Janie   thought  the   silenoe    long 
She  said  so,  and  they  went  in. 


CHAPTER   X. 

FIRST  LETTER  FROM  MARIONDALB. 

> 

ju  EN  days  passed  away.  Mrs.  Gushing, 
either  from  the  sudden  change  to  com- 
plete inactivity,  or  from  the  fact  that 
the  journey  had  really  been  too  much  for 
her  strength,  and  accomplished  under  more  ex- 
citement than  she  had  been  conscious  of,  lost 
ground  somewhat  —  to  her  own  disappointment 
and  Ralph's  great  disquietude.  His  increased 
anxiety  on  her  account,  and  care  of  her,  together 
with  the  daily  walk  or  drive  and  the  many 
attractions  of  the  book-shelves,  had  kept  him 

from  getting  very  much  absorbed  in  his  own  law- 

(163) 


164  Ralph's  Possession. 

books.  He  said  that  he  must  give  himself  one 
week  to  get  the  home  feeling  on,  and  then  go  to 
work  in  earnest.  The  library,  though  much 
smaller  than  his  father's,  contained  some  books 
of  a  class  that  the  latter  was  deficient  in  ;  and 
Ralph's  zeal  to  read  everything  of  real  excellence 
that  he  had  never  met  with  before  was  somewhat 
irrepressible. 

It  was  early  of  a  sunny  afternoon.  Ralph  and 
his  mother  were  in  the  east  parlor,  the  short  ses- 
sion of  after-dinner  lessons  being  in  progress  in 
the  library.  Mrs.  Gushing  was  reclining  on  one 
of  the  sofas,  and  the  conversation  of  the  last 
quarter  of  an  hour  had  given  place  to  silence. 
Letters  from  Rebekah  had  enriched  the  morning. 
"  Everything  went  well,"  she  said.  *'  Her  mam- 
ma would  rejoice  to  see  how  admirable  her  house- 
keeping was.  Even  her  papa  found  no  fault. 
Indeed  he  was  singularly  considerate,  and 
pleased  to  be  pleased  with  everything ;  and  her 
mamma  would  be  really  flattered  to  see  how  he 


First  Letter  from  Mariondale.          166 

watched  for  letters,  and  how  how  he  devoured 
them,  and  discussed  them,  and  made  himself 
happy  over  every  word  of  improvement  on  her 
part.  They  had  just  received  their  first  letter 
from  Mariondale,  and  had  been  much  amused  at 
the  manner  of  the  final  arrival.  Mr.  Gushing  had 
taken  the  account  of  the  breaking  down  quite 
coolly  for  him  ;  saying  he  knew  something  would 
happen  before  they  got  through,  and  thanking 
his  stars  that  Philip  did  not  kick  up  and  dash 
them  both  out.  Poor,  dear,  papa  !  "  she  con- 
tinued. "  He  does  not  know  how  to  thank  any 
higher  power  or  goodness  higher  than  the  stars. 
We  are  of  course  more  together  now  than  ever 
before ;  I  am  able  to  do  more  for  him ;  and  he 
softens  and  expands  wonderfully  under  the  real 
trial  of  your  absence;  so  that  I  am  receiving 
much  from  him,  and  in  ways  quite  new.  I  have 
never  realized,  until  now,  how  far  some  of  papa's 
ways  that  have  been  trying  to  me  may  have  been 
owing  to  real  infirmity  of  organization  ;  an  afflic- 
tion to  himself.  He  is  quite  disposed  to  have  his 


166  Ralph's  Possession. 

evenings  prefaced  with  a  drive,  and  filled  out 
with  some  reading  together,  or  with  conversation 
on  what  we  have  seen  or  read ;  and  often  your 
letters  afford  fruitful  theme  for  comment  for 
days.  I  am  satisfied  that  it  is  largely  by  force 
of  that  tremendous  will  of  which  he  is  possessed 
that  he  submits  himself  to  the  new  order  of 
things  ;  he  mil  make  the  best  of  your  absence 
This  keeps  his  best  side  always  to  the  sunlight. 
But  there  is  a  love  at  work  also.  Deep  down  in 
his  great  soul,  too  long  smothered  by  him  and 
concealed  from  us,  is  an  unselfish  affection  toward 
you,  now  exalted  into  a  determination  that  you 
shall  be  allowed  to  receive  all  possible  benefit 
and  comfort  in  what,  at  our  urgency,  you  have 
undertaken.  Of  all  this  he  said  very  little ; 
much  less  than  I  have  said  here  ;  but  in  some 
way  he  makes  me  feel  it,  see  it,  continually.  He 
speaks  often  of  Ralph,  and  is  evidently  counting 
much  on  his  future. 

"  Ethelred  goes   about,  not  gloomily,  but  like 
one  broken  down.     He  says  he  is  not  sick.     I 


First  Letter  from  Mariondale.          167 

imagine  there  must  be  something  not  of  the 
emoothest  between  him  and  Faith,  or  her  family. 
The  others  of  '  the  Gushing  retinue,'  as  Ralph 
calls  these  good  creatures  who  make  house- 
keeping tolerable,  are  moving  in  their  smooth, 
beaten  track ;  Joan  beaming  with  every  bit  of 
intelligence  from  you,  and  Jane  dissolving  in 
tears.  As  for  William  and  Margaret,  so  long  as 
*  the  bairns '  are  not  sick,  your  absence  is  en- 
dured philosophically.  Zed,  poor  fellow  1  They 
are  all  in  lamentation  over  Zed's  sickness,  even 
Joan.  But  congratulations  concerning  your  im- 
provement predominate. 

"  I  miss,  miss  the  after-breakfast  readings,  — 
the  solace,  the  establishment,  the  renewal  of 
thought  and  of  soul-strength  that  we  always 
found  there.  This  is  the  time  of  day  when  your 
absence  seems  the  hardest.  But,  oh  mamma  1 
how  much  I  miss  you,  —  all  the  time!" 

This  somewhat  lengthy  extract  from  R&- 
bekah's  letter  is  given  as  being  of  interest  after 


168  RalpJis  Possession. 

our  recent  acquaintance  with  the  home  at  the 
Gushing  mansion.  It  was  this  letter,  chiefly, 
that  had  formed  a  text  for  the  conversation 
between  Ralph  and  his  mother  which  had  just 
lulled  into  silence.  And,  while  the  letter  con- 
tinued to  occupy  Mrs.  Cushing's  thoughts,  Ralph, 
who  had  been  reading  the  classics  of  human  law 
all  the  morning,  turned  to  a  small  book  that  he 
had  spied  out  in  the  library  as  something  strange 
or  new  to  him,  and  had  brought  away  to  ex- 
amine. Thomas  a  Kempis.  He  had,  of  course, 
a  vague  knowledge  of  him  as  a  devout  monk  of 
the  middle  ages,  who  had  left  to  the  world  or 
the  church  a  book  called  *'  The  Imitation  of 
Christ."  But  his  acquaintance  further  than  this 
he  had  never  made,  and  his  book  he  had  never 
seen.  He  sat  now  running  his  eye  over  the 
pages,  held  and  led  on  by  the  dreamy,  unfan- 
ciful,  yet  half-real  dialogues  between  disciple 
and  master.  The  quiet  was  interrupted,  not 
disturbed,  by  the  entrance  of  Mrs.  Stanley. 
Lessons  were  over,  and  the  already-arranged 


First  Letter  from  Marlondale.          169 

order  of  the  afternoon  was  a  drive  of  four  miles 
to  a  neighboring  plantation,  where,  in  that  cour- 
teous lack  of  all  ceremony  so  peculiar  to  well- 
bred  Southern  life,  they  would  pass  an  hour  or 
two  with  Mrs.  Stanley's  valued  friends,  the 
Claytons. 

Zed  had  turned  up  three  days  before,  quite 
recovered ;  lavishly  glad  to  be  re -instated  in 
office,  and  wofully  ashamed  of  having  been  sick. 
Thus,  the  Cushings'  carriage  being  provided 
with  a  new  axletree,  and  the  horses  with  their 
old  driver,  Mrs.  Stanley  was  to  be  seated  with 
them,  and  the  children  would  follow  on  in  the 
pony-carriage,  which  Frank  was  proud  to  drive. 
The  drives  around  Mariondale  never  became 
wearisome,  more  especially  as  one  rarely  need 
return  by  the  way  one  had  driven  out.  Their 
way  to-day  lay  through  the  village.  There  were 
two  long,  straight  streets,  very  wide,  running 
parallel  to  each  other,  lined  on  either  side  with 
two-story  white  houses,  and  bordered  with  two 
rows  of  magnificent  trees,  interlined  by  a  third 


170  Ralph's  Possession. 

row,  thus  forming  two  complete  archways  of 
living  green  one  mile  long.  Each  street  was 
like  a  copy  of  the  other,  with  broad  turf  and 
smooth  road-ways  stretching  out  under  the 
shade.  These  streets  were  intersected  at  right 
angles  by  two  shorter,  somewhat  narrower  ones, 
to  which  the  warehouses  and  the  trading  were 
confined.  The  village  was  a  sort  of  centre  for 
the  plantations  for  miles  around,  being  the  mar- 
ket for  their  ordinary  purchases,  and  the  point 
whence  most  of  their  produce  was  freighted  to 
Nashville  and  the  landings  on  the  Tennessee 
river. 

"  How  delightful  I "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Gushing, 
as  they  came  upon  the  first  long,  green  street. 
"  How  charming  !  I  suppose,  Cecilia,  your  an- 
tipathy to  booth  and  bovver  doesn't  allow  you  to 
enjoy  this  as  you  ought  to.  Oh,  I  say  again, 
how  charming  !  how  delightful !  " 

Mrs.  Stanley  was  overjoyed  that  her  own  dear 
Mariondale  was  so  well  appreciated,  and  pro- 
tested that  she  enjoyed  it  none  the  less  because 


First  Letter  from  Mariondale.          171 

preferring  to  live  with  a  secure  sense  of  cornice 
and  panel  about  her.  After  driving  the  entire 
length  of  the  two  streets,  admiring  everything 
admirable,  and  duly  criticising  the  odd  inter- 
spersion  of  homely  and  elegant  houses,  they 
emerged  into  the  rich,  open  country,  and  drove 
on,  partly  through  groves  and  partly  through 
cotton-fields,  toward  Clayton  Hall. 

Mrs.  Clayton  was  more  than  glad  to  see  them* 
and,  embracing  Mrs.  Stanley  with  unaffected 
sweetness,  received  her  two  friends  and  guests 
with  a  royal  ease  and  cordiality  quite  consistent 
with  her  claims  as  a  descendant  of  Pocahontas. 
They  were  duly  introduced  to  her  daughter 
Maria,  who  had  received  her  name  certainly  not 
by  virtue  of  her  maternal  descent ;  but  in  ac- 
cordance with  a  conceit  of  her  father's  that 
Grecian  mythology  and  Athenian  culture, 
either  in  name  or  aspect,  should  stamp  his  en- 
tire domain.  In  all  other  respects  he  was  a 
reasonable  and  average  gentleman.  Miss  Maria 
was  pretty  enough ;  but  had  the  dark  eyes  and 


172  Ralph's  Possession. 

the  deviating  nose  —  neither  aquiline  nor  flat- 
tened, but  yet  as  far  from  the  Grecian  type  as 
possible,  that  at  once  betrayed  her  appellation  a 
standing  misnomer,  grim  and  graceless  in  its 
abiding  irony.  Her  two  brothers  being  that  day 
away  from  home,  and  Mr.  Clayton  not  then  in 
the  house,  it  devolved  upon  her  to  entertain 
Ralph  ;  who,  it  must  be  said,  found  himself  well 
entertained.  There  was  something  in  Maria 
Clayton's  conversation  fairer  than  the  weather, 
and  larger  than  the  space  between  North  and 
South.  Plantation  life  is  not  favorable  to  the 
growth  of  gossip ;  and  her  charity,  as  well  aa 
her  good  sense,  was  entirely  averse  to  anything 
savoring  of  sharp  personalities  or  petty  criticism. 
( Apropos :  We  see  a  deal  of  charity  whose 
good  sense  is  not  manifest ;  and  there  are  many 
worldly-wise,  good-sense  people  whose  hearts 
are  too  dry  a  soil  for  charity  to  groxy  in. 
But  the  ideal  of  charity,  as  somewhere  sketched 
by  Paul,  is  boih  sensitive  and  sensible.) 
The  mere  fact  that  Maria  Clayton  had  been 


First  Letter  from  Mariondale.  173 

*  educated  at  the  North  did  not  make  her  educa- 
tion any  better ;  but  it  naturally  gave  a  turn  to 
her  introductory  words  with  Ralph.  She  had 
never  been  on  the  Hudson,  and  she  asked  from 
him  some  description  of  the  palisades  and  high- 
lands ;  of  West  Point,  and  of  his  own  home. 
Her  enthusiasm  regarding  all  that  is  finest  and 
fairest  in  nature  was  as  impartial  as  it  was  spoh~ 
taneous  and  free.  They  fell  into  some  discus- 
sion of  the  unhappy  differences,  nominally 
political,  but  really  social,  that  more  or  less 
debarred  perfect  unity  of  thought  and  sympathy 
between  North  and  South,  and  of  course  tended 
to  segregate  the  national  life.  Miss  Clayton 
expressed  herself  well  on  this  point,  and  Ralph 
of  course  gave  his  own  best  thoughts  in  re- 
sponse. The  conversation  thus  grew  in  ardor, 
and  even  bordered  on  a  politic  kind  of  vehe- 
mence that  ignores  controversy.  But  when  Miss 
Clayton  declared  herself  most  of  all  tried  in 
seeing  that  even  the  churches  of  the  two  sec- 
tions could  not  b<)  of  one  heart  and  one  mind, 


174  Ralph's  Possession. 

• 

and  asked  why  the  mind  of  Christ  should  not 
cause  the  churches  of  Christ  to  think  alike, 
Ralph  said  that  he  must  be  excused  from  giving 
any  judgment  on  that  point,  as  he  had  never 
been  at  all  identified  with  church  matters.  The 
lady  would  not  be  put  off  so.  She  discerned  in 
her  mother's  guest  a  gentleman  ;  one  who  she 
was  sure  would  speak  temperately  and  patiently 
on  such  a  matter.  For  this  reason  she  endeav- 
ored to  lead  him  on.  He  had,  she  said,  doubt- 
less thought  much  on  the  subject ;  for  no  think- 
ing man  could  be  a  living  citizen  of  this  country 
at  this  crisis,  and  not  exercise  himself  often  in  a 
theme  so  vital  to  our  social  state  and  progress. 
If  he  had  thought  more  than  some  others  he 
was  bound  to  give  out  his  thoughts  ;  and  even 
if  others  had  thought  more  than  he,  his  fewer 
thoughts  might  be  choicer.  Ralph,  however, 
disclaimed  all  right  of  judgment,  since  he  was 
not  himself  individually  a  Christian.  If  an 
impression  might  be  held  as  such,  and  not 
advanced  as  an  opinion,  he  would  suggest  that 


First  Letter  from  Mariondale.          175 

it  might  be  God's  way  to  unite  the  churches  in 
love  as  brethren,  giving  the  same  mind  and 
judgment  in  spiritual  matters,  but  leaving  them 
to  be  taught  by  lessons  of  time  regarding  social 
questions  inseparable  from  their  local  positions 
or  circumstances. 

But  the  moral  borders  very  nearly  on  the 
spiritual,"  said  Miss  Clayton ;  "  and  indeed,  the 
spiritual,  being  once  inaugurated.  We  have  a 
written  word  of  God,  held  to  be  an  infallible 
directory  as  to  all  social  questions  that  involve 
morality.  It  would  seem  that  it  must  settle  for 
us  our  opinions  and  decisions  as  churches,  and 
keep  out  these  differences  that  so  jar  upon  the 
idea  of  '  a  habitation  of  God  through  the 
Spirit.'  " 

'*  I  think  of  two  facts,"  said  Ralph,  "  that  may 
be  helpful  here.  One  is  that,  though  the  Bible, 
being  God's  Word,  is  infallible,  it  does  not  fol- 
low that  the  interpretations  put  upon  it  shall 
be  so,  even  in  the  churches,  —  touching  points  in 
which  salvation  is  not  involved.  This  seems  to 


176  Ralph's  Possession. 

me  a  fair  supposition,  a  probable  fact,  although 
I  am  not  myself  established  in  what  are  called 
the  orthodox  doctrines.  Then  again,  it  seems 
the  Divine  rule,  to  which  few  exceptions  are 
allowed,  that  all  great  processes  shall  be  worked 
out  slowly,  both  in  churches  and  nations." 

"  Yes,"  said  Miss  Clayton,  "  the  idea  born 
with  Christ's  nativity  and  announced  by  angels, 
will  no  doubt  sometimes  be  realized  a  clothed 
and  living  fact,  —  'Peace  on  earth.'  Does  it  not 
reach  to  the  harmony  of  all  social  relations  ? 
And  must  there  not  be  to  this  end  a  Divine 
renewal  of  humanity,  perfecting  social  intelli- 
gence and  moral  judgment?  At  all  events,'* 
she  continued,  "  our  Saviour's  idea  for  His  church 
is  that  of  absolute  peace  and  oneness,  '  that  the 
world  may  believe."1  His  idea  must  be  His  will, 
and  His  will  must  be  consummated.  We  seem 
a  long  time  waiting  for  the  millennium.  Of 
course  He  could  consummate  it  by  an  act  of  ar- 
bitrary power.  1  sometimes  wonder  if  that  will 
be  the  way  at  last." 


First  Letter  from  Mariondale.  177 

"  Few  seem  to  be  waiting  for  it,"  said  Ralph 
dryly. 

"Do  you  mean  few  Christians?"  asked  the 
young  lady. 

"Well, — 3'es,"  he  answered,  a  little  hesitating, 
"  few  of  the  many  who  compose  the  churches." 

"Oh,  I  do  not  think  so,"  she  replied.  " There 
are  earnest  men  at  work  in  all  lands,  with  much 
prayer  for  God's  presence  and  for  the  progress 
of  His  Gospel.  And  we  often  hear  the  mil- 
lennium preached  of  and  prayed  for." 

"  There  is,"  said  Ralph,  "  at  least  I  suppose 
there  is,  a  great  deal  of  real  spiritual  life  hidden 
from  view.  But  at  best  it  has  seemed  to  me 
that  those  who  wait  for  this  expectation,  wait  for 
it  half-forgetfully,  as  a  thing  languidly  desired 
and  a  great  way  off." 

"  A  great  way  off  it  may  be,"  said  Miss  Clay- 
ton. "  I  wish  it  may  be  near." 

"  I  might  say,"  said  Ralph,  "  that  the  ques- 
tion to  which  all  this  leads  is  the  one  which 

most  concerns  me  at  present,  —  the  one  great 
12 


178  Ralph's   Possession. 

personal  question  that  exists  between  the  soul 
and  God." 

"  It  seems  a  necessity  of  our  being  that  that 
question  be  settled  first,"  she  replied.  And,  see- 
ing that  he  was  waiting  for  her  to  say  more,  she 
added,  "  But  if  you  are  desiring  this  reign  of 
peace,  is  it  not  because  the  soul  is  itself  at 
peace  ?  " 

"  I  am  not  desiring  it,"  said  Ralph.  "Christ's 
kingdom  cannot  be  desired  unless  He  is  Himself 
desired.  Any  who  imagine  that  they  desire  the 
millennium  but  are  not  ready  to  meet  Him,  must 
be  deluded." 

Ralph  said  this  with  a  warmth  that  comported 
well  with  his  strong  feeling,  and  startled  Misa 
Clayton.  She  let  her  dark  eyes  fall  for  one  in- 
stant, and  then,  raising  them  fully  to  his  own, 
frank,  open  gaze,  she  said,  "  Whenever  He  does 
come  it  must  be  to  rejoice  the  hearts  of  Hi? 
friends,  as  He  used  to  do  at  Bethany  ;  only  not 
in  humiliation,  but  in  glory." 

At  this  juncture    Mr.   Clayton   entered,  and 


First  Letter  from  Mariondale.  179 

after  greeting  Mrs.  Stanley,  was  presented  in 
turn  to  Mrs.  Gushing  and  to  Ralph,  both  of 
whom  he  received  with  a  heartiness  certainly 
cordial,  but  somewhat  too  brusque  for  elegance. 
He,  however,  wore  an  ease  that  kept  every  one 
else  at  ease,  —  the  ease  of  a  large  and  kindly 
nature.  If  his  manner  was  not  studied  or  pat- 
terned after  rules,  it  was  at  least  genuine, 
and  marked  by  the  refinement  of  true  feeling. 
Knowledge  of  the  world  was  one  of  Mr.  Clay- 
ton's acquisitions  which  he  wore  on  the  outside. 
Everybody  could  see  that  he  possessed  it.  There 
were  many  things  in  the  world  that  he  disliked, 
and  nearly  as  many  that  he  despised;  but  on 
the  whole  he  liked  the  world  very  well,  and  the 
world  generally  liked  him.  The  world  of  sci- 
ence was  only  a  distant  acquaintance  of  his  ;  but 
the  world  of  business  and  politics,  of  music,  lit- 
erature, and  art,  the  world  of  fashion  and  the 
religious  world,  —  all  these  were  intimate  and 
about  equally  valued  friends.  It  must  be  very 
nearly,  if  not  quite,  time  that  he  had  not  a 


180  Ralph's  Possession. 

grudge  or  an  ill-will  toward  any  living  thing. 
He  used  to  say  that  there  are  some  persons,  as 
there  are  some  animals  and  insects,  who  are  not 
personally  agreeable,  and  whom  no  amount  of 
philanthropy  can  render  so.  These  he  would 
on  no  account  molest,  and  he  would,  of  course, 
help  them  out  of  trouble  when  opportunity 
offered,  or  contribute  to  their  happiness  in  any 
desired  and  proper  way  ;  but  if  this  might  be  at 
arm's  length,  all  the  happier  for  him.  This  sen- 
timent he  was  wont  to  express,  as  he  lived,  in  a 
humorous,  rather  kindly  vein  that  amused  him- 
self and  perhaps  injured  nobody.  His  entrance 
now  so  far  interrupted  conversation  as  to  direct 
it  into  new  channels.  He  very  properly  devoted 
himself  to  the  two  ladies,  which  movement  gave 
Mrs.  Clayton  the  opportunity  to  make  Ralph's 
acquaintance,  and  left  Urania  free  for  a  frolic 
with  the  children.  She  knew  their  fondness  for 
her  garden  and  her  games,  and  if  Janie  had  ral>~ 
bits  Urania  had  squirrels,  which  Janie  must  by 
all  means  see.  Of  croquet  there  was  none  in 


First  Letter  from  Mariondale.  181 

those  days,  and  there  was  no  velocipede  for 
Frank  ;  nevertheless  both  Frank  and  his  sister 
were  always  well  entertained  by  Urania.  In- 
deed Frank,  manly  boy  though  he  was,  felt  more 
at  home  in  Miss  Urania's  society  than  in  that  of 
her  brothers,  whom  he,  therefore,  did  not  par- 
ticularly miss.  This  might  have  been  because 
there  was  more  in  her  nature  like  his  own,  and 
which  understood  his  ;  or  perhaps  only  because 
she  was  at  more  pains  to  entertain  him.  The 
eldest  of  her  two  brothers  may  have  been 
twenty-three  or  four  ;  her  senior  by  two  or  three 
years.  The  other  was  but  eighteen.  Herbert, 
the  eldest,  happily  had  a  good  English  name, 
which  befell  him  from  the  fact  that  his  father 
and  grandfather  had  borne  the  same.  But  the 
younger  brother,  Orpheus,  was  the  victim  of  the 
odd  parental  conceit  that  in  his  case,  as  in  his 
sister's,  had  done  what  it  could  to  flatter  the 
myths  of  Greece.  This  trait  of  Mr.  Clayton's 
may  have  been  inherited.  At  all  events  his 
own  only  sister  bore  the  name  of  Penelope,  foi 


182  Ralph**  Possession. 

which  her  parents  must  have  been  responsible. 
The  name  of  Orpheus,  however,  suited  the  youth 
better  than  it  could  have  suited  his  brother,  — 
better,  even,  than  Urania's  fitted  her.  Herbert 
was  much  like  his  father,  although  taller  ;  some- 
what more  deliberate ;  even  less  imaginative. 
Purely  practical,  full  of  stolid  energy  and  de- 
cision ;  given  to  study,  but  only  to  that  which 
he  considered  of  use,  as  mathematics,  architect- 
ure, mechanics,  and  so  much  of  chemistry  as 
was  worth  while  to  intelligent  agriculture.  Or- 
pheus, on  the  other  hand,  was  lightly  built,  and 
of  light,  regular  features ;  hated  business ;  was 
fond  enough  of  historic  and  scientific  studies,  but 
was  under  the  ruling  passion  of  music. 

Mrs.  Clayton,  thinking  that  her  guests  looked 
weary,  would  not  at  all  allow  them  to  return 
without  some  refreshment,  and  accordingly  sent 
orders  for  an  early  tea,  —  for  the  evenings  were 
growing  cooler,  and  Mrs.  Cushing's  favored 
moonlight  had  dropped  out  of  the  evening  role 
just  then.  The  lady  then  finding  that  they 


First  Letter  from  Mariondale.  183 

would  be  delighted  to  walk  over  the  grounds 
and  herself  wishing  to  see  the  children  at  their 
sports,  they  all  sallied  out.  Instead  of  lions  ou 
the  door-steps,  were  a  stone  Cerberus  on  one 
side  and  an  eagle  opposite,  the  coupling  of  which 
nearly  overturned  Ralph's  gravity.  His  rich  fun 
was  always  alive,  and  often  troublesome.  Every- 
thing in  the  house  and  over  the  finelj-arranged 
premises  endured  some  Grecian  sage  or  deity. 
Apollos,  Minervas,  Ariadnes ;  busts  of  Homer, 
and  Sophocles,  and  Plato;  and  so  on  indefi- 
nitely. Fountains  swarming  with  Cupids  intent 
upon  hitting  somebody.  All  this  in  the  pres- 
ence of  a  horticultural  art  certainly  unknown  to 
the  ancients,  and  in  the  absence  of  anything  else 
suggestive  of  Christian  culture  or  modern  life. 
**  Really,"  thought  Ralph,  "  a  fortune  were  a 
small  price  to  pay  for  a  genuine  taste." 

But  Ralph,  as  well  as  his  mother,  was  inter- 
ested in  much  that  they  saw  peculiar  in  Southern 
homesteads,  and  differing  also  from  anything 
seen  at  Mrs.  Stanley's  because  of  the  different 


184  Ralph's   Possession. 

character  of  the  plantation  and  the  large  number 
of  "  operations  "  in  progress.  They  came  upon 
the  children  in  a  great  state  of  enjoyment  with 
Urania.  But  most  of  all  they  observed  some  of 
the  negro  cabins,  at  a  short  distance  rearward  to 
the  house,  half-screened  by  clumps  of  box-wood 
and  cedar,  and  reached  by  smooth  pebble  walks 
of  white  and  gray.  Ralph  had  to  acknowledge 
that  everything  was  faultlessly  kept.  Mrs. 
Clayton  suggested  that  her  Northern  guests 
might  like  to  walk  toward  the  negro  quarters. 
This  they  were  very  willing  to  do.  Mrs.  Stanley 
kept  but  few  servants,  and  they  had  never  seen 
genuine  plantation-life.  The  children  had 
joined  them  with  Urania,  and  thus  there  was 
quite  a  procession.  Janie  could  not  walk  with- 
out Cousin  Ralph's  hand,  —  which  was  only  one 
of  many  proofs  given  him  since  their  first  walk 
together  that  nothing  then  said  had  frightened 
her  from  him.  She  now  gave  him  much  of  her 
sweet  prattle,  and  he  gave  her  his  whole  atten- 
tion. Mary  and  Frank  and  herself  had  been 


First  Letter  from  Marionddle.           185 

playing  one  game  and  another  with  Urania,  and 
had  seen  her  squirrels.  "  And  oh,  Cousin 
Ralph  !  "  she  said,  "  the  squirrels  are  a  great 
deal  funnier  than  my  rabbits,  and  have  prettier 
ways.  They  seem  more  like  persons.  Such 
warm  nests  they  make  in  such  warm  places ! 
My  rabbits  are  ever  so  pretty,  but  they  are 
always  dipping,  dipping.  Then  those  squirrels 
jump  and  climb  so  gracefully  ;  but  how  a  rabbit 
does  look  when  he  tries  to  jump!  And  the 
prettiest  of  all  is  these  long,  bushy  tails,  that 
are  never  in  the  way  like  Rex's  tail.  There 
seems  to  have  been  some  mistake  about  my  rab- 
bits' tails  ;  don't  you  think  so,  Cousin  Ralph  ?  " 
she  asked,  pausing  dreamily,  as  the  child  always 
did  when  a  new  thought  struck  her. 

"  Why,  no,  little  Janie,"  said  Ralph,  "  not  a 
mistake,  I  think.  There  is  no  doubt  a  perfect 
reason  why  they  are  just  as  they  are." 

**  Oh,  I  know  what  you  mean,"  said  Janie. 
"  There  could  be  no  mistake  in  what  God  makes, 
just  as  there  could  be  no  mistakes  in  what  He 


186  Ealph's  Possession. 

says.  All  is  good  and  all  is  true.  And  now 
that  I  think,  I  am  sure  a  long,  bushy  tail 
wouldn't  look  very  well  on  a  rabbit/'  and 
Janie's  laugh  rang  out  like  a  silver  bell  as  the 
idea  pictured  itself  before  her.  Mrs.  Gushing 
and  the  Claytons  started  with  surprised  pleasure 
at  the  merry  peal,  unlike  any  child-laughter  that 
they  knew  besides.  Mr.  Clayton  and  the  three 
ladies  were  walking  in  advance,  and  behind 
Ralph  and  Janie  were  the  older  children  with 
Urania. 

"  That  is  a  good  thought,"  said  Ralph,  "  but 
that  is  not  all.  The  rabbit  would  have  no  use 
for  the  squirrel's  tail.  His  motions  are  so  differ- 
ent that  it  would  be  greatly  in  his  way,  a  sad 
inconvenience  to  him.  And  then,  as  he  is 
always  down  among  the  things  that  grow  low- 
est,—  finding  his  pleasure  and  his  occupation 
on  the  ground,  a  bushy  tail  would  get  extremely 
du-ty." 

"  Yes,"  said  Janie,  "  his  bob-tail  is  the  neatest 
possible,  after  all." 


First  Letter  from  Mariondale.  187 

"  A  thing  is  always  prettier  where  it  fits  best," 
said  Ralph. 

•         ••••••• 

They  were  now  close  upon  one  of  the  cabins, 
under  the  shade  of  an  old  oak-tree.  Its  sleek 
denizen,  "Aunt  Eve,"  was  making  ready  the 
supper  for  her  good  man  "Uncle  Israel,"  who, 
with  several  of  the  other  "  hands,"  had  come  in 
with  an  overseer  earlier  than  usual  for  some 
work  on  the  immediate  premises.  Aunt  Eve 
curtsied  in  the  doorway  as  the  party  was  pass- 
ing, and  received  in  return  a  sort  of  choral 
salutation,  of  which  the  predominant  words, 
44  Well,  Aunt  Eve,  tidy  as  ever  in  your  cabin," 
were  in  Mr.  Clayton's  voice.  The  tidy  black 
creature  was  pleased  to  see  that  Missus  Clayton 
had  so  many  gentry-folks  to  inspect  the  men- 
tioned neatness  of  her  quarters,  and  declared, 
in  a  modest  respectful  manner  and  satisfied 
tone,  that  Israel  junior  would  go  with  her  to  the 
house  this  evening  to  carry  "  the  lightest,  pastry 
and  the  snowiest  linen  that  ever  Missus  Clayton 
could  wish  to  see." 


188  Ralph's  Possession. 

As  they  passed  on  they  neared  others  of  the 
cabins,  all  neatly  kept  after  Aunt  Eve's  example, 
and  Mrs.  Clayton's  frequent  injunction  and  show- 
ing. Returning  to  the  house,  they  passed  near 
where  the  work  was  in  progress  ;  four  or  five  of 
the  men  in  a  group.  Ralph  drew  attention  to 
two  striking  faces  among  them,  equally  forcible 
yet  in  singular  contrast.  The  one  was  that  of 
a  tall,  rather  awkwardly  formed  man ;  the 
strong  face  marked  by  regular,  well-cut  features, 
and  strong  expression  of  honest  will  and  of 
earnest  submission  to  a  destiny  that  must  be 
worked  out  on  principle.  The  other  face  was  of 
a  younger  man,  a  shade  lighter  and  a  trifle  less 
wiry ;  with  features  more  animal,  yet  hardly  less 
intelligent,  marked  by  an  animus  intensely  evil. 
The  first,  Urania  said,  was  Uncle  Israel.  The 
other  was  a  man  called  Joe,  a  field-hand  who  had 
not  been  long  on  the  place. 

"  We  can't  make  him  out,"  she  said.  "  He  is 
always  sullen,  and  seems  opposed  to  every  good 
influence.  I  am  half  sorry  papa  has  him  ;  but 


First  Letter  from  Mariondale.  189 

we  may  be  able  to  do  him  good.  I  dare  say  he 
has  had  a  hard  lot.  And  we  must  confess  that 
some  of  those  poor  creatures  do  have  a  bitter 
history.  Some  think  this  is  inevitable  to  the 
system  ;  and  others,  you  know,  do  not." 

"  A  prevailing  impression  at  the  North,"  said 
Ralph,  "  an  impression  that  I  think  exists  with- 
out regard  to  party,  is  that  the  blacks  at  the 
South  are  very  generally  Christians  —  that  they 
are,  as  it  were,  constitutionally  religious." 

"  Oh  dear,  no !  "  said  Urania,  "  not  in  any 
right  sense.  They  are  constitutionally  emotion- 
al ;  and  where  pains  is  taken  with  them  they 
seem  readily  open  to  religious  impressions.  But 
there  are  comparatively  few  in  whom  the  con- 
science seems  really  awake,  and  the  heart  with 
Jesus.  A  great  many  blacks,  as  whites  also, 
speak  his  name :  but  we  look  to  see  it  spoken 
out  of  a  full  heart  —  the  life  corresponding." 

"  After  all  "  said  Ralph,  "  the  life  is  the  con- 
fession." 

"  No,  I  think  not,"'  said   Urania ;  "  I  would 


190  Ralph's  Possession. 

rather  say  the  life  is  the  witness  to  the  truth  or 
falsenesss  of  the  confession.  If  an  Englishman 
is  loyal  to  his  sovereign  he  says  so.  And  then 
his  life  demonstrates  it.  And  he  does  not  say  so 
once,  as  a  matter  of  necessity  or  propriety  ;  never 
again  mentioning  the  sovereign's  name.  The 
same  loyalty  that  regulates  his  life  leads  to  evi- 
dent loyalty  of  speech  ;  and  the  name  supremely 
honored  will  be  often  fittingly  mentioned." 

"  I  do  not  undertake  to  answer  you,"  said 
Ralph.  "  Indeed  my  own  feeling  is  that  you  are 
right.  Still  there  is  much  to  which  this  subject 
leads  that  is  not  plain  to  me.  I  am  glad  to  lis- 
ten." 

"The  illustration  is  of  course  incomplete," 
said  Urania ;  "  good  only  as  far  as  it  goes.  It 
seems  to  me  that  when  Christ  is  received  in  all 
His  blessed  claims,  it  is  because  we  find,  —  not 
always  knowing  how,  —  that  He  is  personally 
necessary  to  us  in  just  those  relations  which  His 
claims  qualify  Him  to  fill.  For  instance  :  we 
find  that  we  are  absolutely  weak  and  dependent. 


First  Letter  from  Mariondah  191 

We  thus  need  a  Sovereign  Lord  who  cares  for 
us  and  can  do  all  things.  This  is  Jesus.  We 
find  that  we  are  involved  in  sin  beyond  remedy. 
We  then  need  an  Almighty  Saviour.  This  is 
Jesus.  And  so  on,  through  all  the  relations  that 
He  fills  to  His  people.  When  He  is  so  received 
we  receive  of  His  Spirit,  of  His  nund.  We 
thus  begin  to  think  as  God  thinks,  and  what 
Christ  says  satisfies  ;  we  do  not  need  it  refuted. 
It  is  doutless  His  good  will  to  be  confessed  ;  and 
that  in  the  most  ample  sense.  But  it  is  hardly 
in  good  taste  to  argue  the  point.  When  He  is 
received  He  is  confessed." 

Ralph  was  silent  for  a  moment.  And  Urania, 
feeling  that  to  offer  apology  for  having  said  so 
much  would  seem  like  apologizing  for  the  truth, 
was  silent  also.  Presently  Ralph  said,  — 

"  You  have  discovered  that  these  subjects  in- 
terest me.  But,  let  me  ask,  does  the  individual 
receive  Christ  in  all  His  claims  because  convinced 
that  He  is  just  thus  necessary  to  us  ?  Is  the  pro- 
cess so  logical  as  that  ?  " 


192  Ralph's  Possession. 

"  I  did  not  intend  to  be  understood  logically, 
but  vitally,"  said  Urania ;  "  my  remark  may  have 
been  badly  constructed.  I  believe  that  when 
any  soul  receives  the  Lord,  the  Saviour,  it  is  be- 
cause He  is  revealed  to  the  soul ;  to  the  heart ; 
to  the  understanding.  The  whole  man  is 
*  drawn.'  There  is  a  renewed  mind  ;  a  birth 
from  above,  a  new  creature  in  Christ.  On 
the  part  of  the  individual,  no  amount  of 
analysis  or  reasoning  can  affect  the  matter. 
The  relation  of  the  believer  to  the  Saviour  is 
a  conscious  relation.  No  doubt  it  may  be  logi- 
cal also." 

"  Yes,  I  thought  so,"  said  Ralph. 

The  change  in  his  tone  surprised  her.  It  was 
not  of  irony ;  neither  exactly  of  acquiescence.  It 
was  as  of  one  unsettled,  and  under  some  shadow 
of  a  sorrow  altogether  manly,  and  too  quiet  to 
obtrude  itself. 

But  the  party  had  left  the  pebbled  walks,  and 
were  thrown  more  together  again  ;  stepping  over 
the  lawn  toward  the  house.  The  conversation 


First  Letter  from  Mariondale. 


193 


thus  became   more   general,   and   Ralph   found 
himself    by   Mrs.    Clayton,    with    Janie    again 

pulling  at  his  hand. 
IS 


CHAPTER  XI. 

LIGHT. 

'HE  drive  home  was  enjoyed  by  all  be- 
cause of  the  pleasant  way  they  went,  and 
especially  because  all  were  in  a  mood  to 
enjoy.  They  were,  however,  a  little 
later  than  they  had  intended  to  be ;  so  that 
the  short  Southern  twilight  was  fast  fading 
before  they  reached  home.  Mrs.  Gushing  had 
proposed  taking  Janie  with  them  in  the  carriage, 
as  she  knew  that  Mrs.  Stanley  would  feel  better 
to  have  Ralph  with  Frank,  since  it  was  growing 
dark;  beside  which,  Ralph  was  fond  of  the  chil- 
dren and  would  doubtless  be  glad  of  the  change. 
(194) 


Light.  195 

Ralph's  quick  true  feeling  discerned  that  he 
could  not  do  otherwise ;  and  accordingly,  al- 
though really  preferring  the  first  arrangement, 
he  said  cordially,  and  in  his  own  droll  way,  at 
once  comic  and  elegant,  — 

"  By  all  means.  Anything  for  a  change,  and 
for  your  service,  Cousin  Cecilia.  I  shall  feel 
honored  in  charge  of  your  infants;  and  they 
always  treat  me  well." 

Mrs.  Stanley  accepted  the  proposal,  and  as 
they  drove  away  (  Frank,  of  course,  driving  the 
pony  )  Ralph  said,  — 

"  Don't  mind  what  I  said,  Franky,  we  are  all 
infants  in  our  mother's  eyes,  you  know." 

"  I  don't  mind,"  said  Frank,  "  only  you  can't 
have  these  reins.  This  is  my  establishment. 
Let  me  alone,  and  I  don't  mind  what  you  say. 
But  May  here  is  a  real  stuck  up  old  woman. 
She  will  be  pointing  at  you,  cousin  Ralph," 

"  Oh  Franky,  Franky !  your  manners  are  not 
improving,"  said  Mary. 

"  There,  cousin  Ralph,  don't  you  see  ?    It  is 


196  Ralph's  Possession. 

something  about  manners  from  morning  to  night. 
When  it  isn't  manners  it  is  morals.  Oh,  May, 
when  did  you  grow  up  ? " 

44  Don't  you  think  he  is  a  tease,  Cousin 
Ralph  ? "  "  But  after  all,  he  is  a  first-rate 
fellow,"  she  said,  patting  him  with  real  fondness. 
44  The  best  brother,  for  a  little  one,  in  all  Ten- 
nessee, I  believe." 

44  Now  May,  sister  May  I "  said  the  really 
sensitive  Frank.  "  I  will  stop  teasing  you  if  you 
will  only  stop  your  compliments.  Nevertheless, 
May,  your  mauner-and-moral  lectures  are  a 
severe  trial  to  me ;  a  real  thorn  in  the  flesh," 
said  he,  with  mock  pathos. 

44  Oh  brother,  you  mischief!  you  do  stop  teas- 
ing, indeed.  Suppose  now  we  give  Cousin 
Ralph  a  chance  to  speak." 

44  Oh !  for  manners  !  Yes  for  manners'  sake 
we  will,"  said  the  boy.  "Now  cousin  Ralph, 
here  is  your  chance.  Please  adapt  your  speech 
to  Mary's  grown-up  comprehension." 

They  were  driving  on  at  a  good  rate ;  keeping 


Light.  197 

close  to  the  carriage,  which  Zed  caused  to  roll 
rapidly.  Ralph  was  too  well  entertained  to  care, 
about  being  heard  himself.  "You  are  doing 
very  well,"  he  said,  "  both  in  your  talking  and 
driving.  The  pony  has  something  to  do  o 
keep  up  with  the  carriage  to-night.  They  are 
getting  you  home  in  time  for  your  history  lesson, 
Franky." 

"  Pray  don't  suggest  history ! "  gasped  Frank. 
"  It  will  be  endured  when  it  comes." 

"  There  is  a  star  !  "  exclaimed  Mary.  "  Just 
above  the  sunset  glow.  How  bright!  how 
lovely  !  " 

"Yes,"  said  Ralph,  "it  is  indeed.  We  al- 
ways look  for  the  evening  star  at  home.  I  dare 
say  father  and  Rebekah  are  looking  at  it  now." 

"  Now  there  is  a  grand  study  for  us,"  said 
Frank.  "  That  star  served  me  a  good  turn,  to 
help  me  forget  my  history  lesson.  Astronomy 
must  be  grand !  " 

"  Yes,  you  are  right  enough  there,"  said 
Ralph.  "  But  certain  astronomical  facts  are  all 


198  Ralph's  Possession. 

that  you  could  gain  until  you  have  acquired 
a  good  deal  of  mathematics.  Just  so  the  science 
of  history  is  grander,  but  requires  greater  study, 
than  the  memorizing  of  bare  facts  in  history. 
What  do  you  know  of  either  ?  " 

"  Not  much,"  said  Frank,  coloring.  **  I  am 
going  into  algebra  next  year,  but  I  don't  know 
when  I  can  take  geometry.  History  takes  so 
much  time,  when  a  fellow  might  be  learning 
some  of  these  good  things ! " 

"  But,"  said  Ralph,  "  you  could  not,  and 
would  not  wish  to  grow  up  ignorant  of  history. 
There  is  time  for  all." 

"  Oh,  I  suppose  so  !  '*  said  Frank  dolefully. 
"  But  it  takes  so  long  to  grow  up  !  Except 
Mary,  —  hush  now,  May  !  Cousin  Ralph,  is  the 
evening  star  a  star  or  a  planet  ?  " 

"  A  planet,  in  some  sense  a  star,"  said  Ralph, 
"  though  the  stars  are  not  planets.  The  even- 
ing star,  so  called,  is  properly  the  planet 
Venus." 

There  was  a  brief  silence,   and   Mary  asked 


Light.  199 

thoughtfully,  "What  is  light?  It  must  be 
something" 

"  Mary,  you  are  a  philosopher  !  "  cried  Frank. 
"  Oh,  Mary  !  something  must  be  something  I 
The  something  that  we  see  by,  and  almost  exist 
by  ;  the  something  that  reveals  the  world,  — 
that,  they  say,  gives  color,  and  form,  and  all 
beauty;  this  something  that  we  call  light, — 
why,  it  must  be  something  !  How  profound  !  " 

"  Franky,  now  you  promised  not  to  tease  me." 

"  I  am  not  teasing,  Mary.  I  say  I  am  going 
to  propose  your  name  as  a  member  of  the  Na- 
tional Scientific  Society." 

"  Come  Franky  !  you  never  can  stop.  Cousin 
Ralph,  will  you  please  to  tell  us  what  light  is?  " 

Ralph  explained  to  them  in  as  simple  words 
and  as  few  as  possible,  the  "  undulating  theory," 
namely,  that  light  is  motion  ;  a  peculiar  mode  of 
motion,  consisting  in  an  inconceivably  rapid  se- 
ries of  undulations,  or  waves,  of  an  invisible 
fluid  without  appreciable  weight  or  substance, 
that  fills  all  space.  "These  undulations,"  he 


200  RalpJis  Possession. 

said,  "  are  perceived  by  the  eye,  as  the  undula- 
tions of  the  air  are  perceived  by  the  ear.  The 
one  is  light;  the  other  is  sound.  Light,  then, 
objectively,  is  motion.  Subjectively,  as  regards 
the  observer,  it  is  sensation.  The  invisible  fluid 
which  is  the  medium  of  this  is  called  ether." 

"  What  sets  all  this  going,  Cousin  Ralph  ?  " 
asked  Frank.  "  What  starts  the  waves  ?  And 
how  is  it  that  they  are  everywhere  when  it  is 
light,  and  nowhere  when  it  is  dark  ? " 

Ralph  laughed.  *'  Your  last  question,"  he 
said,  "arises  from  a  wrong  impression  that  it 
would  take  time  to  correct.  As  to  the  first,  you 
must  remember  that  undulation  is  motion  of 
form,  not  of  matter.  Thus,  if  you  place  a  straw 
or  a  cork  on  the  surface  of  smooth  water,  and 
then  disturb  the  water  by  throwing  a  pebble 
near  the  floating  substance,  you  will  see  that  this 
does  not  move  outward  with  the  undulations, 
showing  that  the  water  itself  does  not  progress 
outward,  only  that  there  is  a  progressive  change 
of  form.  In  like  manner,  those  active  processes 


Light.  201 

that  are  at  work  between  the  particles  of  lumi- 
nous bodies,  agitate  the  ether,  as  your  pebble 
agitates  the  water ;  and  the  agitation  is  ex- 
pressed in  undulations,  of  which  the  undulations 
of  water  are  a  correct  but  an  exceedingly  coarse 
illustration." 

"  But  the  rays  of  light  seem  to  come  in 
straight  lines,"  said  Mary,  "  and  the  water 
moves  in  circles." 

"  The  undulations  move  in  right  lines  as  re- 
gards any  object  that  they  shine  (or  fall)  upon," 
said  Ralph.  "  But  if  we  could  stand  at  the 
point  from  which  they  proceed,  we  would  see 
that  they  move  equally  in  all  directions ;  that  is, 
in  circles  as  regards  the  centre." 

"  Is  all  this  proved? "  asked  the  practical 
Frank.  "  My  teacher  says  that  a  theory  is  good 
for  nothing  unless  induced  from  facts." 

"  This  theory  of  light  originated,"  said  Ralph, 
"  before  the  most  wonderful  facts  now  known 
about  light  were  established.  It  originated  aa 
being  one  of  the  only  two  theories  conceiv 


202  Ralph's  Possession. 

able  for  examining  light  on  any  physical  ba- 
sis. But  the  longer  the  phenomena  of  light 
are  studied,  the  stronger  is  the  support  given  to 
this  theory.  Philosophers  are  so  delighted  with 
its  uniform  explanation  of  facts,  that  there  is 
no  longer  any  disposition  to  dispute  its  correct- 
ness." 

"  People  pretend  to  know  how  fast  light 
travels,"  said  Mary.  "  Ever  so  many  miles  in 
one  second." 

"  That,"  said  Ralph,  "  is  the  discovery  of  a 
Danish  astronomer  named  Roemer.  He  noticed 
that  an  eclipse  of  one  of  the  moons  of  Jupiter, 
observed  when  the  earth  is  at  that  point  of  its 
own  orbit  nearest  to  Jupiter,  returned  sixteen 
minutes  later  than  calculated  when  the  earth  was 
at  the  opposite  part  of  the  orbit,  —  that  is,  about 
two  hundred  million  miles  farther  from  Jupiter 
than  before.  These  calculations  for  the  real  re- 
turn of  the  eclipse  were  found  correct  beyond 
all  controversy.  Its  observed  return  was,  there- 
fore, sixteen  minutes  too  late.  It  follows  then, 


Light.  203 

that  an  eclipse  of  one  of  these  satellites  that 
would  be  seen  by  us  at  a  certain  time  when  we 
are  nearest  Jupiter,  is  seen  sixteen  minutes  (or 
about  one  thousand  seconds)  later  when  we  are 
two  hundred  million  miles  farther  away.  This 
gives  to  light  a  velocity  of  two  hundred  thou- 
sand miles  in  one  second." 

"  Then,"  exclaimed  Frank,  delighted,  "  we 
can  tell  how  long  it  takes  light  to  come  to  us 
from  the  stars." 

"  Yes,"  answered  Ralph,  "  provided  we  can 
calculate  the  distances  of  the  stars.  In  the  case 
of  one  or  more  of  them  this  has  been  done  by 
actual  measurement.  And,  upon  the  basis  of 
this  known  distance  of  the  nearest,  Herschel 
worked  out  his  method  of  computing  distances 
by  magnitudes." 

"  How  far  from  us  are  they  ?  "  asked  Frank. 
"And  what  are  they,  anyhow?" 

Ralph  laughed  again.  "  Your  questions  come 
too  fast,"  he  said.  "  As  to  the  distances,  some 
of  them  are  so  great  that  they  only  bewilder  us. 


204  Ralph's  Possession. 

We  really  seem  no  better  informed  after  know- 
ing all  about  it.  The  first  whose  distance  was 
actually  measured  (doubtless  one  of  the  very 
nearest),  is  six  hundred  thousand  times  farther 
from  us  than  our  own  sun  ;  and  a  wave  of  light 
starting  from  it  at  this  moment,  will  reach  us  in 
about  ten  years.  But  some  of  them  are  hun- 
dreds of  times  farther  from  us  than  this." 

"  Ten  years !  "  exclaimed  Mary.  "  And  hun- 
dreds of  ten  years !  To  think  that  the  undula- 
tions should  keep  on  so  long.  How  very  singu- 
lar." 

"Yes  truly,"  said  Ralph.  "  And  the  rapidity 
of  this  light-motion,  as  compared  with  all  ordi- 
nary physical  motion  known  to  us,  is  proved  to 
be  inconceivable  by  comparing  it  with  other  ve- 
locities. For  instance:  a  cannon-ball  is  com- 
puted to  move  at  the  rate  of  about  five 
hundred  miles  an  hour.  Now,  aim  your  cannon 
at  the  star  we  speak  of,  and  suppose  the  ball, 
never  to  fall  back  to  the  earth,  but  to  keep 
right  on  at  five  hundred  miles  an  hour.  It  will, 


Light.  205 

at  that  rate,  reach  the  star  only  after  about 
fourteen  million  years.  But  the  light  waves  pass 
from  the  star  to  us  in  ten  years.  So  then,  those 
little  waves  of  ether  of  which  the  eye  is  sensi- 
ble, move  many  thousand  times  faster  than  a 
cannon-ball." 

"  How  wonderful !  "  said  Frank.  "  Mary,  I'll 
have  to  thank  you  after  all  for  your  inquiry,  and 
commend  your  conclusion.  Light  is  something, 
sure  enough.  We  hear  of  ethereal  beauty, 
ethereal  lightness,  and  so  on.  I  think  we  must 
begin  to  talk  of  ethereal  swiftness,  and  ethereal 
distances.  But,  Cousin  Ralph,  how  do  we  really 
know  and  prove  all  these  facts  ?  " 

"  By  different  means,"  said  Ralph.  "  Greatly 
by  means  of  Geometry.  Of  course  in  some 
sense  the  telescope  has  done  everything  for 
astromony.  Yet  it  was  in  some  good  sense  a 
science  before  we  had  the  telescope.  The  law 
of  gravitation  being  understood,  and  the  teles- 
cope in  hand,  this  might  have  sufficed  to  reduce 
star-gazing  to  a  system,  but-after  all,  the  calcula- 


206  Ralph's  Possession. 

tions  which  consolidate  the  system,  and  give  it 
compactness  as  a  science,  are  due  to  Geome- 
try." 

"  Then,"  said  Frank,  "  I  must  get  into  geome- 
try as  soon  as  ever  I  can." 

"  Better  systematize  your  history,  first,"  said 
Ralph. 

And  as  they  turned  into  the  Stanley  grounds, 
and  the  pony  walked  slowly  up  the  carriage-way, 
Mary  said,  — 

"  Mamma  thinks  that  the  works  of  God  not 
only  prove  Him  holy,  and  loving,  and  good,  but 
prove  Him  in  every  sense  absolute.  We  can't 
find  that  He  has  made  a  mistake,  or  fallen  short 
of  any  design,  or  ever  grown  weary.  That 
seems  to  me  a  nice  thought." 

"  Yes,"  said  Frank,  "  mother  has  ever  so  many 
nice  thoughts.  What  was  that  the  other  day, 
May,  about  'God  infinite?"1 

"  Oh !  I  tried  to  remember,"  said  Mary.  "  It 
was  something  like  this :  That  the  God  who 
redeemed  is  the  God  who  created,  for  only  the 


Light.  207 

Creator  could  redeem  a  fallen  creation.  That 
Redemption,  then,  is  as  infinite  as  Creation. 
That  God  being  in  all  things  absolute,  as  He  is 
infinite,  it  follows  that  everything  which  He  says 
is  not  only  infinitely  said  but  absolutely  sure. 
God  having  spoken  in  grace,  can  neither  retract 
nor  fail." 

"  And,"  said  Frank,  "  she  said  that  this  is  the 
stability  of  the  Christian.  God,  having  promised, 
will  surely  fulfil.  His  written  word,  she  said, 
proves  itself  of  Him  as  clearly  as  His  works  do." 

"  All  these  sentiments  are  what  good  Parson 
Laidley  at  home  would  call  '  excellent  points,' ' 
said   Ralph.     "And,"   he    continued,    as    they 
drove  up  to   the  door,   "  I  must  consider  your 
part  of  the  discourse  better  than  mine." 
•        ••••••• 

Franky  went  to  his  history  and  his  Latin. 
Janie  had  a  deal  to  tell  Ralph  about  the  drive 
after  those  twc  fine  horses,  —  "  and  with  a  white 
man  to  drive.  It  seemed  so  fine  and  so 
strange  I "  And  Mary  had  a  story  for  her 


208  Ralph's  Possession. 

mother  of  the  wonders  they  had  been  discussing 
with  Ralph. 

"  Cousin  Ralph  was  very  good  to  tell  you  so 
much,  and  at  so  much  pains,"  said  her  mother. 

•  ••••••• 

The  daily  reading  at  Mrs.  Stanley's  was  in 
the  evening ;  being  so  preferred  by  her.  She 
used  to  say  that  our  Father's  thoughts  toward  us 
being  for  our  refreshment,  should  be  read  when 
we  are  weary,  and,  being  for  our  instruction, 
should  be  read  when  we  are  most  at  leisure 
from  other  things.  That  was  her  own  feeling ; 
but  others  might  find  some  earlier  part  of  the 
day  giving  larger,  happier  room  to  the  sayings 
that  are  faithful  and  true.  This  evening  the 
words  from  Deuteronomy,  "  Oh,  that  there 
were  such  an  heart  in  them,  that  they  would 
fear  me,  and  keep  all  my  commandments 
always,"  considered  in  connection  with  the 
words  of  Jesus :  "  If  ye  love  me  keep  my  com- 
mandments," were  realized  by  Ralph  as  expres- 
sive not  only  of  good  will,  but  also  of  love  as 


Light.  209 

we  understand  it,  on  God's  part  toward  His 
people ;  and  of  His  desire  for  the  love  of  the 
ones  loved.  And  in  the  conversation  that 
followed,  (the  children  having  retired)  Ralph 
gave  some  outline  of  his  conversation  with 
Urania  Clayton. 

"  How  God  waits  to  be  gracious  to  them  that 
resist  Him  !  "  said  Mrs.  Stanley.  "  We  need  to 
remember  that  the  wrath  of  God  is  not  vindic- 
tive. He  delights  in  mercy  ;  not  in  the  death  of 
the  sinner.  Judgment  is  His  'strange  works/ 
but  it  is  part  of  His  perfect  doing." 

The  remark  was  not  pointed  at  Ralph,  but  he 
perhaps  thought  it  was.  He  answered  rather 
abruptly,  "  I  never  found  an  explanation  of  eter- 
nal judgment  as  coinciding  with  eternal  love." 

"  Not  in  the  cross  ?  "  asked  Mrs.  Stanley. 

Ralph  did  not  answer;  and  his  mother  said, 
"Faith  rests  in  God,  and  does  not  seek  for 
explanations  that  He  is  not  pleased  to  give. 
Our  Saviour  certainly  is  not  playing  with  us,  nor 

with  word?,  when  He  uses  not  figures  only,  but 
14 


210  Ralph's  Possession. 

declarations  on  this  point.  But  there  is  no  de- 
light in  them.  God  is  love.  God  is  the  Judge. 
God  the  Redeemer  is  God  the  Sovereign,  the 
Holy.  When  His  judgments  are  in  the  earth 
they  will  be  right  judgments." 

"  Yes,"  said  Ralph,  "  I  suppose  that  must  be 
so.  And  the  answer  of  an  evil  conscience  is 
after  all  the  best  answer  to  the  problem.  The 
one  question  pressing  me,  you  know,  is,  how 
shall  a  man  be  justified  ?  The  very  rising  of 
the  question  seems  to  justify  God." 

Mrs.  Stanley  looked  up  from  her  needle-work. 
"  I  did  not  know  that  you  were  not  satisfied  as 
to  that,  Cousin  Ralph,"  she  said. 

"  Oh,  I  know  the  orthodox  doctrine,"  said 
Ralph  ;  "  and  I  do  not  altogether  repudiate  it. 
But  I  am  not  clear  about  the  blood-shedding ; 
and  I  am  sensible  that  Christ  is  not  all  to  me 
that  He  is  fitted  to  be,  nor  His  peace  my  posses- 
sion." 

"  That  last  is  not  strange,  if  the  shedding  of 
His  blood  has  no  meaning  to  you,"  said 


Light.  211 

Stanley.  "Then  where  do  you  find  atone- 
ment ?  " 

"  I  am  assured,"  said  Ralph,  "  that  He  in 
some  way  gave  himself  for  us  that  He  might 
redeem  us  from  all  iniquity.  And  if  I  were 
assured  as  to  the  Divine  necessity  of  a  perfect 
demonstration  of  the  Divine  justice  on  account 
of  sin,  then  I  dare  say  I  should  see  how  perfectly 
the  sorrow  and  darkness  and  death  of  the  Son 
of  God  in  flesh  will  meet  the  case." 

"  If  Jesus  be  indeed  the  Son  of  God,"  said 
Mrs.  Stanley,  "  there  could  be  no  other  meaning 
in  His  death  than  Atonement ;  it  is  impossible. 
But,  Cousin  Ralph,  let  me  say  that  you  are 
simply  yielding  to  a  temptation,  or  to  some 
pride  of  intellect,  in  all  this.  If  you  are  con- 
vinced that  the  crucified  Jesus  is  risen  again,  de- 
clared to  be  the  Son  of  God  with  power,  it  is 
because  God  has  convinced  you  of  it  —  has 
taught  j'ou.  Yet  I  do  not  see  that  you  are  con- 
vinced. That  is  —  your  heart  is  not  holding 
this  truth,  and  worshipping  Him.  If  it  were 


212  Ralph's   Possession. 

there  would  be  neither  cavilling  nor  stumbling 
at  the  meaning  of  His  sacrifice." 

"  I  do  recognize  His  claims  as  Divine,"  said 
Ralph. 

"  My  dear  cousin,"  said  Mrs.  Stanley,  "  you 
may  think  that  you  recognize  in  Jesus  the  Son  of 
God.  But  recognizing  is  not  believing.  When 
you  get  the  view  of  Him  and  of  His  work  that 
God  gives,  your  heart  will  be  broken  ;  it  may  be 
with  pain,  it  may  be  with  rapture ;  but,  in 
either  case,  you  will  know  that  it  is  broken,  and 
that  the  blind  eyes  see." 

•  ••••• 

As  Ralph  was  retiring  that  night  he  turned  to 
some  words  from  Thomas  a  Kempis  that  had 
held  his  eye  in  the  quiet  moment  after  dinner, 
and  had  lain  in  his  thought  all  day  :  '  Blessed 
and  true  is  that  comfort  that  is  inwardly  received 
from  the  truth.  A  devout  man  always  carries 
about  with  him  Jesus  his  comforter,  and  saith  to 
Him,  *  Be  with  me,  O  Lord  Jesus,  in  all 
places  and  at  all  times.' 


Light. 


213 


"I  have  never  experienced  that,"  thought 
Ralph ;  "I  do  not  know  that.  No,  I  do 
not." 


CHAPTER    XII. 

VISIT  TO  THE  ORPHANS. 

T  was  on  this  same  evening  that  a  scene 
transpired  in  the  *  pretty  white  house,'  as 
Ralph     always     called     the     Jamesons' 
domicile ;  some    record    of    which    must 
here  be  given. 

Mrs.  Jameson,  the  mother  of  '  the  young 
preacher,'  was  sitting  with  her  daughter  Alice, 
who  was  somewhat  older  than  Frederick. 
Mother  and  daughter  were  busy  with  their 
needle-work.  The  apartment  was  an  extreme 
one  in  several  respects.  It  was  at  the  extreme 

of  the   north   wing  ;  and  was  of  extreme  neat> 
(214) 


Visit  to  the  Orphans.  215 

ness,  and  extremely  plain  in  its  furnishing.  Al- 
though there  were  many  other  rooms  in  the 
house,  some  of  which  were  large,  and  one  at 
least  having  better  adornments,  this  one  was 
found  most  convenient  for  general  use.  The 
neat  kitchen  with  its  waxed  floor  opened  off  on 
the  left ;  and,  there  being  no  servant  claiming 
rule,  the  proximity  was  altogether  to  be  pre- 
ferred. This  apartment  served  as  dining-room, 
(or  rather  as  breakfast,  dinner  and  supper-room,) 
sewing-room  for  the  two  just  introduced,  and 
study  for  Frederick  and  the  growing  Robert.  It 
was  the  very  life  of  these  four  to  live  within 
sight  and  sound  of  one  another's  look  and  voice. 
The  busy  Frederick  was  all  day  at  his  fruit-nur- 
sery and  orchard,  or  at  some  business  connected 
therewith  ;  or  at  his  profitable  recreation  of  cab- 
inet work.  And  Robert  was  helping  him  when 
not  at  school.  Thus  the  evening  was  Fred's 
only  time  either  for  the  society  of  mother  and 
sister,  or  for  the  studies  which  also  made  so  large 
part  of  his  existence.  As  he  was  possessed  of 


216  Ralph's  Possession. 

one  of  those  rare,  happy  temperaments  that 
allows  its  owner  to  read  or  think  without  com- 
plete isolation  from  others  of  mortal  kind,  it 
fell  out  that  the  family  room  and  the  study 
stood  one  and  undivided. 

Mrs.  Jameson  was  elderly,  not  old  ;  above  the 
medium  height,  but  well  proportioned,  with  a 
face  that  must  have  been  once  beautiful,  now 
only  slightly  lined  with  care.  Her  well-ar- 
ranged hair  was  fine  and  soft,  with  all  the 
enviable  beauty  of  a  luxuriant  gray.  Her 
deeply-set  eyes  were  a  soft  hazel,  and  her  hands 
slender,  delicate,  and  of  a  texture  and  touch  that 
could  belong  only  to  a  lady.  Her  whole  appear- 
ance rendered  it  quite  superfluous  that  any  one 
seeing  her  be  told  of  her  genuine  culture  and 
self-respect.  And,  before  knowing  her  long, 
one  would  discover  that  these  qualities,  (in-born 
and  in-wrought  as  they  were),  were  co-existent 
with  genial  sweetness,  with  humility,  and  with 
a  truly  catholic  delight  in  realizing  brotherhood 
with  all  mankind.  This  was  the  woman  who 


Visit  to  the  Orphans.  217 

had  borne  and  reared  Frederick  Jameson,  and 
by  means  of  whose  teaching  and  example  he  had 
imbibed  his  first  love  of  the  truth  as  it  is  in 
Jesus.  The  daughter  was  not  much  like  the 
mother.  Although  she  was  fond  of  her  mother 
and  of  Frederick,  yet  her  natural  fondness  had 
not  at  all  times  by  any  means  either  concealed  or 
controlled  her  enmity  to  the  Christian  living  of 
the  others.  It  was  only  lately  that  she  had 
withdrawn  from  an  attitude  and  an  occasional 
outspoken  impatience  that  amounted  to  a  phase 
of  persecution ;  and,  finding  that  she  was  not 
only  unlovely  but  really  herself  miserable,  had 
softened,  and  at  length  allowed  some  faithful 
word  from  her  mother,  kindly  urged,  to  open  her 
eyes  and  her  heart  before  the  very  cross  of 
Christ.  From  that  time  her  strong,  natural  affec- 
tion found  no  hindrance.  Frederick,  whom  she 
had  really  ardently  loved,  became  her  great  help, 
and,  next  to  the  mother,  her  chief  source  of 
solicitude  and  of  joy.  But  Robert,  seventeen 
years  old,  who  had  always  been  the  baby  and 


218  Ralph's  Possession. 

the  pet,  was  loved  with  a  peculiar  love.  Since 
the  enmity  had  been  destroyed,  and  that  hard- 
ness and  hatred  toward  the  truth,  which  divides 
so  many  households,  had  been  taken  away,  no 
more  peaceful  and  united  family  could  be  found. 
•  ••••••• 

**  Alice,  dear,  what  can  keep  Fred  and  Robie 
so  long  out  ?  "  asked  Mrs.  Jameson.  "  They 
went  only  those  few  rods,  the  short  way  through 
the  brush-wood,  to  Mr.  Smith's,  with  the  book- 
shelves, meaning  to  return  at  once,  I  think." 

"  Sure  enough,  it  is  too  long,"  said  Alice. 
**  Oh,  I  dare  say  they  found  some  one  there 
whom  they  know.  Mr.  Smith,  if  alone,  would 
hardly  invite  them  to  stay." 

"  Mr.  Smith  is  a  hard  man,  truly,"  said  the 
mother.  "  But,  you  know,  he  has  had  a  hard 
life.  Alone  so  many  years,  and  not  sustained 
by  anything  unseen  !  How  could  there  be  any 
expansiveness  without  any  sunshine  ?  " 

"  Oh,  mother,  he  was  just  so  years  and  years 
ago,  before  his  wife  and  baby  died." 


Visit  to  the  Orphans.  219 

*'  Somewhat  so,"  said  Mrs.  Jameson.  "  Yes, 
he  is  naturally  morose." 

•         ••••••• 

At  this  moment  the  two  young  men  entered, 
accompanied  by  Orpheus  Clayton,  who,  by 
reason  of  a  common  love  for  music,  (and  by 
other  tastes  in  common)  had  been  strongly 
bound  to  Robert  from  childhood.  Robert  was 
in  high  glee  at  having  found  Orpheus  at  Mr. 
Smith's,  entertaining  "  the  old  man,"  with  a 
new  composition  for  the  flute.  "  One  of  his 
own,  mother.  There  is  no  music  that  smoothes 
out  Smith's  crabbedness  like  Orpheus  Clay- 
ton's." 

Orpheus  blushed  slightly  at  this ;  for  Robert 
had  spoken  more  proudly  than  if  it  had  been 
some  success  of  his  own. 

"  I  am  glad  to  see  you  Orpheus,"  said  Mrs. 
Jameson.  "  The  more  so  that  we  had  not  ex- 
pected you.  A  pleasure  is  always  enriched  by 
surprise." 

"  You  are  very  kind,  Mrs.  Jameson,"  said  the 


220  Ralph's  Possession. 

young  man.  "  If  my  coming  gives  you  pleasure 
I  must  preserve  its  quality  by  not  coming  too 
often." 

"  Ah !  you  always  have  a  ready  answer,"  said 
Mrs.  Jameson  with  a  quiet  laugh  that  told  of 
deep  enjoyment.  "  Are  your  father  and  mothei 
well  ?  and  your  sister  ?  " 

"  Very  well ;  yes  ma'am,  thank  you.  I  came 
this  way  with  Herbert  this  afternoon.  He  had 
some  business  for  father  at  Mr.  Way  land's,  and 
afterward  we  rode  around  by  Mr.  Smith's  to 
conclude  arrangements  for  letting  out  Joe. 
Mrs.  Smith,  who  is  always  in  love  with  my  flute, 
and  fancies  to  have  me  blow  on  his  when  mine 
is  not  at  hand,  would  have  me  stay  and  sup  with 
him,  as  he  calls  drinking  tea." 

"  You  must  have  done  him  good,"  said  Fred- 
erick. "  He  has  never,  I  believe,  smiled  so 
entirely,  or  been  so  talkative,  as  this  evening." 

**  The  old  man  has  a  warm  spot  around  his 
heart  somewhere,"  said  Robert.  "  The  spark 
only  needs  to  be  fanned  the  right  way." 


Visit  to  the  Orphans.  221 

"Why  do  you  call  him  'the  old  man,'  Robie  ?" 
said  Mrs.  Jameson.  "  He  is  not  old,  and  the 
expression,  as  you  use  it,  is  rude." 

"  Oh,  it  is  convenient,  mother,  and  it  describes 
him  very  well,  I  think.  But,  if  you  don't  like 
to  hear  it,  I'll  not  say  it." 

Mrs.  Jameson  knew  that  the  two  youths  were 
*  up  to  music,'  as  Frederick  was  wont  to  call  the 
working  of  their  ruling  passion,  and  she  gave 
them  the  opportunity  to  hold  their  own  converse 
while  she  asked  Frederick  further  about  their 
call  at  Mr.  Smith's. 

"  It  does  seem  to  me,"  he  said,  »*  that  God  is 
drawing  that  hard,  strange  man  to  Himself  by 
ways  of  singular  tenderness.  It  has  led  me  to 
think  that  traits  which  seem  to  us  to  mark  cer- 
tain individuals  as  peculiarly  evil,  may  be  only 
the  working  of  constitutional  habit  from  which 
others  are  constitutionally  free.  If  God  judges 
so,  and  is  dealing  with  this  hardness  as  an  in- 
firmity demanding  compassion  as  well  as  correc- 
tion, He  is  so  reproving  the  uncharity  of  our 
impatience." 


222  RalpKs  Possession. 

"  You  are  giving  me  quite  a  lecture,  brother," 
said  Alice.  "  You  know  I  am  not  at  all  patient 
\vith  Mr.  Smith.  He  snaps  so  !  One  can  better 
bear  with  the  great  bark  of  a  great  dog." 

*'  There  is  something  large  about  his  nature, 
notwithstanding,"  replied  Frederick.  "  I  have 
seen  it  in  many  ways.  But  just  to  think  how 
this  short  acquaintance  with  Orpheus  has  been 
used  for  his  good,  and  for  the  bringing  out  of 
his  large  qualities  !  It  is  not  the  music  only,  for 
he  will  talk  with  Mm  by  the  hour." 

There  was  a  moment's  pause,  and  then,  as 
Fred  Jameson  always  told  his  mother  every- 
thing, he  continued :  "  Mr.  Smith  asked  me  this 
evening  where  I  am  going  to  speak  next  Sunday, 
and  said  he  should  like  to  be  there.  It  is  the 
first  time  he  has  said  any  kind  word  about  it." 

This  was  true,  but  it  was  not  all  the  truth. 
Mr.  Smith  had  often  made  wnkind  remarks  on 
the  subject  of  his  young  neighbor's  course, — 
remarks  that  had  been  no  small  trial  to  Fred- 
erick. The  exclamations  of  good  sympathy  from 


Visit  to  the  Orphans.  223 

mother  and  sister  at  what  he  now  said,  were 
natural.  Perhaps,  aleo,  they  were  gracious. 
Frederick  responded, — 

"  I  am  glad  also,  —  glad  that  the  enmity  is 
breaking  down ;  especially  (indeed  I  may  say 
only)  because,  in  as  far  as  I  am  speaking  the 
true  words  of  God,  it  indicates  the  breaking  of 
the  enmity  toward  Him." 

"  Do  you  not  speak  anywhere  before  Sun 
day  ?  " 

"  Not  this  week.  Next  week,  if  God  please, 
in  the  new  church  at  Keuyonville." 

Orpheus  caught  the  last  words,  and  said, 
*'  Frederick,  Mr.  Smith  says  that  a  man  who 
preaches  the  Gospel  ought  to  do  nothing  else." 

"That  is  a  strange  remark  for  Mr.  Smith," 
said  Mrs.  Jameson.  "  He  has  always  had  a 
good  deal  to  say  in  disapproval  of  the  clerical 
profession,  as  he  calls  the  ministry." 

*'  Mr.  Smith  is  both  right  and  wrong,  I  dare 
Bay,"  said  Frederick  thoughtfully,  adding,  "  I 
think  cases  do  arise  in  the  ordering  of  God 


224  Ralph's  Possession. 

where  one  is  called  to  some  work  as  an  Evan- 
gelist without  wisdom  for  a  pastoral  charge. 
*  Some,  evangelists ;  some,  pastors  and  teach- 
ers.' " 

"  /  would  like  to  see  you  all  minister,"  said 
Orpheus. 

"Oh,  J  wouldn't!"  said  Robert.  "He 
wouldn't  seem  like  Fred.  Think  of  him  in  a 
white  neck-cloth,  and  a  long-tailed  black  frock ! 
Oh,  Fred !  And  then,  what  should  I  do  if  you 
were  in  a  parsonage  and  I  alone  here  ?  " 

The  ardent  Robert  had  taken  alarm  in  such 
funny  earnest,  that  all  present  laughed  with  a 
gusto  which  partly  re-assured  him. 

"  Rob,  the  case  is  plain  enough,"  said  Fred- 
erick. "  The  Lord,  no  doubt,  has  foreseen  and 
noted  all  our  past,  and  his  good  hand  has  been 
in  it.  He  makes  our  gifts  and  capacities  just 
what  they  are,  and  our  circumstances  are  of  His 
ordering  or  allowance.  Here  are  mother  and 
sister  to  be  supported  ;  and  if  I  am  sure  of  any- 
thing as  to  the  present,  it  is  that  these  handa 
must  work." 


Visit  to  the  Orphans.  225 

"  How  can  a  man  always  know  what  God's 
call  is?"  asked  Orpheus,  addressing  Mrs.  Jame- 
son. 

"  I  hardly  know  how  to  answer  you,"  she 
said.  "  I  think  sometimes,  perhaps  generally, 
the  will  of  God  as  to  our  course  is  so  evi- 
dent that  one  cannot  but  know  it,  if  the  heart 
is  attentive  to  learn  God's  will  and  not  intent 
upon  its  own.  In  case  of  any  unusual  conflict 
or  perplexity,  the  believing  soul  will  not  be  in 
haste." 

The  youth  paused  before  replying :  "  And 
then  they  say  '  Pray?  Frederick  believes  in 
prayer,  and  so  does  Rob.  And  I  think  I  do, 
also." 

"Witho.it  any  argument  on  that  point,"  said 
Mrs.  Jameson,  "it  is  sufficient  now  to  say  that 
the  child  of  God  who  has  his  Saviour's  fellow- 
ship cannot  live  without  prayer,  nor  forego  it ; 
either  on  his  own  account,  or  on  account  of  his 
brethren,  or  of  the  kingdom  of  God.  God 'a 

thoughts    about  it   are    no   doubt    higher   and 
15 


226  Ralph's  Possession. 

sweeter  than  the  reasoning  of  men.  In  on« 
view  it  is  presented  as  a  test  of  obedience. 
Pray  because  God  says  so.  That  might  be 
enough  of  itself.  But  it  is  presented  also  on  a 
higher  plane ;  '  Praying  in  the  Holy  Spirit.'' 
*  Praying  always  with  all  prayer  and  supplication 
in  the  Spirit.'  This  is  not  mere  obedience.  It 
is  communion  with  God.  And  it  may  well  lead 
us  to  watch  lest  we  make  prayers,  instead  of 
being  so  filled  with  the  Spirit  that  they  are 
wrought  in  us." 

"  Albeit,"  said  Frederick,  "  the  highest,  sweet- 
est, only  service  toward  God  is  obedience ;  un- 
questioning, filial  doing  of  what  is  bidden." 

"  Yes ;  the  word  filial  embracing  love  and 
understanding,"  said  his  mother.  "  For  '  the 
end  of  the  commandment  is  love,  out  of  a  pure 
heart,  of  a  good  conscience,  and  of  faith  un- 
feigned.' And  the  growth  of  a  child  of  God  ia 
in  wisdom  and  understanding." 

•         •         •         •  •         •  .       • 

A  day  or  two  after  this,  Herbert  and  Opheua 


Visit  to  the  Orphans.  227 

Clayton  drove  over  to  the  Stanleys  to  pay  their 
compliments  to  Ralph  whose  visit  they  had 
missed ;  bringing  messages  to  the  ladies  from 
their  mother,  who  was  that  day  unable  to  ac- 
company them.  Ralph  thought  he  had  never 
seen  a  contrast  more  emphatic  between  tvv» 
brothers ;  but  found  them  both  well-informed, 
agreeable  young  gentlemen,  whom  he  was  glad 
to  know.  Mrs.  Stanley  came  in  to  see  them ; 
and  while  Herbert  was  conversing  with  her, 
Ralph  went  over  with  Orpheus  the  adventure 
that  followed  the  breaking  down  of  the  carriage, 
which  led  Orpheus  to  speak  of  his  own  ac- 
quaintance with  the  Jamesons  and  of  his  recent 
evening  with  them.  Frederick  had  been  several 
times  spoken  of  by  Mrs.  Stanley  with  a  desire 
that  her  friends  might  know  him,  and  Ralph 
was  glad  to  know  of  the  appointment  at  Ken- 
yonville.  The  Clayton  brothers  withdrew  soon, 
declining  an  invitation  to  dinner,  and  feeling 
that  they  had  made  an  acquaintance,  \\  horn 
they  could  not  fail  to  value.  For  those  two 


228  Ralph's  Possession. 

brothers,  though  so  unlike,  were  yet  unlike  in  a 
way  that  assimilates,  and  drew  strongly  together 
in  many  of  their  tastes. 

It  fell  out,  by-the-by,  that  Ralph  met  with 
Frederick  Jameson  before  hearing  him  at  Ken 
yonville.  At  dinner  that  day  he  sr»"ke  of 
young  Clayton's  acquaintance  with  the  i'amily, 
and  of  his  apparently  ardent  friendship  ffv 
Robert,  of  whom  Ralph  had  not  heard.  Mrs 
Stanley  proposed  that  they  should,  on  the  day 
following,  d'"*'e  on  the  Nashville  road,  and  call 
at  Mrs.  J«%.nesou's.  Mr.  Stanley  and  Mr. 
Jameson  had  been  close  friends,  and  the  two 
ladies  esteemed  each  other  cordially,  but  seldom 
met ;  as  Mrs.  Jameson  was  unable  to  pay  visits. 
Mrs.  Stanley  would  feel  quite  free  to  take  her 
friends  there. 

This  was  agreed  to  by  all  except  Mary,  who, 
if  her  mamma  would  allow  I  er,  would  prefer 
staying  at  home.  She  did  not  like  Alice 
Jameson;  was  sure  she  never  could  like  her; 
and  really  felt  every  way  uncomfortable  at  the 


Visit  to  the  Orphans.  229 

Jamesons'.  Frank  was  disposed  to  take  this  as 
a  personal  affront,  as  he  considered  the  Jamesons 
(  all  except  Alice  )  the  most  delightful  acquaint- 
ances. And  what  if  Alice  was  plain,  and  inex- 
pressive, and  lacking  all  tact  in  entertaining  ? 
She  was  a  good  soul  who  injured  nobody  ;  and 
there  must  be  something  to  her,  since  she  was 
always  careful  of  her  mother,  and  her  brothers 
were  very  fond  of  her.  Mary  thought  this  very 
probable,  but  did  not  see  how  those  com- 
mendable qualities,  in  a  person  whom  she  did 
not  like,  could  at  all  affect  the  case  in  point. 
She  did  not  like  Alice  Jameson,  and  Alice  Jame- 
son certainly  was  not  agreeable  to  strangers. 

Mrs.  Stanley  gently  checked  the  children ; 
Baying  that  they  were  speaking  too  much,  and 
that  personal  criticism  with  no  good  end  in  view 
is  quite  out  of  taste.  They  begged  their 
mamma's  pardon,  and  the  conversation  was  led 
by  her  in  a  way  of  more  general  interest.  But 
after  dinner,  the  three  children  being  together 
in  one  corner  of  the  library,  Frank,  with  some 


230  Ralph's  Possession. 

polite  reserve,  opened  his  batteries  on  poor 
May. 

"  I  think  you  are  quite  too  bad,  May,"  he 
Baid,  "  Mamma  says  we  should  have  charity  for 
all." 

44  Yes.  I  have  charity  for  Alice,"  said  Mary, 
not  out  of  patience,  but  quite  in  earnest.  "  I 
wouldn't  harm  her,  and  I  would  be  willing  to  do 
her  good.  But  what  is  the  harm  of  not  going 
to  see  her  ?  I  don't  like  her,  and  I  can't  help  it. 
She  is  a  good  creature,  I  dare  say ;  but  if  she  is, 
let  her  prove  it  by  making  herself  agreeable, 
like  Urania  Clayton  or  Ursula  Farr." 

"  Comparisons  are  not  good,  May  darling," 
said  their  mother,  as  she  was  cutting  some 
flowers  near  them.  "  Be  gentle,  my  dear 
daughter,  in  your  feelings,  and  in  the  expression 
of  them." 

"  Yes,  mamma,"  replied  Mary.  "  But  just 
think,  mamma,  how  impossible  it  is  to  like  what 
one  dislikes." 

"  Oh,    May,    May !    grown-up    May ! "    said 


Visit  to  the  Orphans.  231 

Frank.     **  Philosophy  again,   and   such  philoso- 


**  Gentle,  Franky,  —  no  teasing,"  said  Mrs 
Stanley,  adding  to  Mary,  "  You  may  not  like 
qualities  that  are  opposed  to  your  tastes.  But 
respect  and  love  are  quite  disconnected  frorr 
what  is  essentially  agreeable.  I  can  tell  yon 
my  dear,  that  Alice  is  more  deserving  of  your 
regards  than  Cousin  Ursula." 

"  Why,  mamma  !  how  is  that  possible  ?  I 
think  Ursula  is  lovely." 

"  Ursula  has  an  agreeable  manner  with  those 
whom  she  seldom  meets,"  said  Mrs.  Stanley, 
"  because  politeness  is,  with  her,  less  a  principle 
arising  out  of  genuine  good  feeling  and  unselfish 
regard  for  others,  than  a  custom  in  the  obser- 
vance of  which  she  is  conscious  of  appearing 
well.  Ursula  is  more  lovely  out  of  her  home 
than  in  it.  You  do  not  know  that  she  regards 
her  own  comfort  first  in  everything  ;  and  yet 
continues  always  to  make  herself  uncomfortable 
and  her  mother  unhappy." 


232  Ralph's  Possession. 

Mary  was  quite  blank  at  this.  "Oh,  mamma! 
Why  did  you  tell  me  ?  "  she  exclaimed. 

"  I  will  tell  you  now  why  I  have  told  you 
this,"  said  her  mother.  "  You  would  certainly 
observe  it  yourself  as  you  grow  older ;  and  I 
have  anticipated  your  own  discovery  of  it  be- 
cause it  conveys  just  the  lesson  that  you  need  at 
this  time.  You  are  naturally  prone  to  i'orm 
judgments  on  first  appearances ;  that  is,  you  pre- 
judge, and  then  you  allow  your  prejudice  to 
rule  you,  —  caring  neither  to  inform  yourself 
further,  nor  to  judge  yourself  wi  h  your  neigh- 
bor. This  you  must  take  pains  to  correct,  my 
dear  child.  For  the  Saviour's  name  you  must 
correct  it." 

The  tears  had  come  in  Mary's  eyes,  and  in 
Frank's,  too ;  the  generous  fellow  instinctively 
feeling  the  reproof  his  sister  bore.  Little  Janie, 
who  was  absorbed  in  a  frolic  with  Rex,  had 
heard  nothing  connectedly,  but  looked  up  just 
here,  saying,  "  Uncle  John  says  we  ought  to  like 
everybody." 


Visit  to  the  Orphans.  233 

*'  That  is  not  what  you  say,  is  it  mamma  ?  " 
said  Mary  beseechingly. 

"  No,  my  dear  child,"  said  her  mother.  "  I 
say  that  qualities  are  inseparable  from  persons, 
and  that  you  cannot  like  what  your  tastes  are 
wholly  adverse  to.  But  you  can  lead  that  wholly 
unselfish  life  which  is  love,  and  which  not  only 
renders  to  all  their  due,  but  finds  an  interest  in 
the  happiness  of  all." 

"  Thank  you,  mamma,  thank  you  really, 
mamma,"  she  said,  rather  tremulously,  but  not 
allowing  the  tears  to  rise  again.  Janie  noticed 
that  there  was  some  strong  emotion  transpiring  ; 
but,  apprehending  that  it  was  not  her  affair, 
drew  a  little  sigh  and  went  to  her  lessons.  As 
Mary  passed  the  parlor-door  half  an  hour  later, 
Ralph  rallied  her  on  her  disposition  to  stay  alone 
at  home  when  the  going  out  was  not  of  her 
preference.  "Cousin  Mary,"  he  said,  "you 
must  surely  not  be  one  of  those  sickly  mortals 
who  make  happiness  to  consist  in  enjoying  one's 
telf.  They  ask  us  '  How  did  you  enjoy  your- 


234  Ralph's  Possession. 

self?'  on  such  an  occasion;  not  '  what  did  you 
enjoy  in  others  ? '  or  '  Did  you  see  or  hear  what 
enlarged  your  soul  toward  God  and  men  ? ' 
This  enjoying  one's  self  can  be  turned  into  mis- 
erable work." 

"  Oh,  Cousin  Ralph  !  "  said  Mary,  half-crying 
again ;  "  will  you  make  me  ashamed,  too  ? 
Mamma  has  been  giving  me  one  of  her  sweet 
scathings.  And  now  you!  But  I  do  want  to 
enjoy  others  than  myself.  That  is  just  the  diffi- 
culty, I  don't  always  find  how" 

"  No,  Mary,  no,"  said  Ralph  quickly.  "  I 
spoke  like  a  fool.  Forgive  me !  I  spoke  like  a 
fool." 

"  You  had  better  go  with  us,  May  dear,"  said 
Mrs.  Gushing.  "  You  will  have  the  opportunity 
to  see  the  spot  of  our  adventure,  —  with  a  new 
graphic  description  by  Ralph." 

"  I  shall  go,  Aunt  Helen,  you  may  be  sure  I 
shall  go,"  she  replied.  "  I  see  that  I  have  been 
very  wrong.  Cousin  Ralph,  I  don't  think  you 
spoke  like  a  fooL" 


Visit  to  the  Orphans.  235 

But  their  drive  that  afternoon  was  in  quite 
another  direction  ;  to  visit  first  an  orphan  school 
and  asylum,  endowed  by  bequest,  and,  in  part, 
maintained  by  private  charity.  Mrs.  Stanley 
wished  also  to  visit  two  poor  families  whom  she 
knew  to  be  worthy  and  in  need.  All  these  ob- 
jects of  visitation  by  a  happy  coincidence  lay  on 
the  Kenyonville  road ;  by  which  means  Zed  was 
made  sufficiently  acquainted  with  the  route  for 
Tuesday  evening. 

How  pleasant  that  visit  to  the  orphan  house 
was !  How  much  one  learns  from  beholding 
God's  manifest  faithful  care  of  these  little  ones 
(whom  His  wisdom  has  bereaved),  in  the  happy 
fruit  of  a  little  love  and  toil  that  some  of  our 
fellows,  as  His  instruments,  have  been  led  to 
bestow  on  them.  Mrs.  Gushing,  whose  nerves 
had  been  weaker  for  a  few  days,  and  who  had 
even  required  some  nursing,  was  quite  refreshed 
by  what  she  saw,  — "  really  fortified  and  com- 
forted," she  said.  (She  had  already  missed 
very  much  the  opportunities  of  going  out  of  her- 


236  Ralph's  Possession. 

self  that  her  home  neighborhood  supplied  ;  for, 
although,  full  of  loving  interest  in  her  cousin's 
family,  there  was  no  field  for  benevolent  action 
there,  since  the  servants  were,  of  course,  not  ac- 
cessible to  a  stranger.  Except,  indeed,  during 
the  two  hours  of  Sunday  instruction,  which  was 
a  time-honored  custom  on  the  part  of  the  Stan- 
leys toward  their  servants.) 

The  visit  of  to-day  filled  Mrs.  Cushing's  whole 
soul  with  new  health.  They  had  but  a  few 
minutes  in  the  school-room,  as  the  daily  session 
was  just  closing.  The  closing  exercise  was  one 
of  recitations  from  Scripture,  which  also,  they 
were  informed,  inaugurated  the  exercises  of  the 
morning.  One  of  the  texts  in  choius  was  from 
the  Psalm :  "  Seven  times  a  day  do  I  praise 
Thee,  because  of  Thy  righteous  judgments." 

At  this  point  a  little  hand  went  up,  and  its 
owner  being  permitted  to  speak,  a  bright-eyed 
little  fellow  said,  "  We  only  give  thanks  to  our 
Father  morning  and  evening,  and  here  it  saya 
seven  times  a  day." 


Visit  to  the  Orphans.  237 

"Yes,  Johnny,"  said  the  teacher.  "But  our 
action  as  a  school  is  not  the  limit  of  the  free 
service  of  every  one  of  us  toward  our  Heavenly 
Father.  These  expressions  in  the  Psalms  are 
the  expressions  of  a  soul  happy  in  the  forgive- 
ness of  sins  and  singing  praises  to  God  at  all 
times." 

"  The  Saviour  hadn't  come  then,  had  He  ?  " 
said  Johnny. 

u  No.  But  there  were  promises  and  teach- 
ings indicating  that  a  Deliverer  should  come. 
The  Gospel  was  not  fully  revealed  as  now,  but 
God's  true  people  understood  that  God  Himself 
was  Saviour ;  and  that  forgiveness  was  of  His 
grace,  not  of  our  merit.  The  Old  Testament  is 
full  of  this." 

Another  hand  went  up,  and  an  older  scholar 
asked,  "  How  can  we  give  thanks  to  God  be- 
cause of  His  judgments  ?  " 

"  Ah,  Willie  Jones  !  "  said  the  teacher,  "  Mr. 
Root  or  Mr.  Jameson  might  give  us  a  gracious 
sermon  from  that  text.  I  can  only  say  it  is  be- 


238  Ralph's  Possession. 

cause  the  judgment  of  condemnation  that  was 
due  to  us  has  been  taken  by  Jesus,  in  whom  our 
sins  were  put  away.  And  He  Himself,  the 
Lord,  is  the  risen  living  witness  of  this.  God'a 
judgments  are  for  us,  not  against  us,  if  we  are 
honoring  Jesus, — if  our  hearts  are  receiving 
Him.  The  heart  that  loves  Him  knows  how  to 
praise  Him  for  all  His  judgments,  in  all  things, 
for  they  are  right  and  good."  * 

A  few  more  verses  were  recited,  among  which 
the  one  most  dwelt  upon  was  1st  John,  iv.  11 : 
"  Beloved,  if  God  so  loved  us,  we  ought  also 
to  love  one  another."  It  was  shown  to  be  a 
thought  suited  to  affect  only  the  believer  in 
Jesus ;  because  only  as  Grod  is  believed  can  His 
love  move  us  to  love  one  another.  As  the 
teacher  was  about  dismissing  them,  another  hand 
was  seen  signaling  to  speak. 

"  Well,  Annie  ?  "  said  the  teacher,  patiently, 
"  Our  time  is  up,  but  we  will  hear  you." 

"  May  we  sing  *  I  lay  my  sins  on  Jesus '  ?  " 
asked  the  child. 

*"P«nlms  rxix.  12^. 


Visit  to  the  Orphans.  239 

The  singing  was  generally  reserved  until  after 
supper.  But  as  eight  or  ten  little  hands  went 
up  quickly  in  favor  of  the  hymn,  it  was  thought 
best  not  to  deny  it.  Familiar  as  it  was  to  all 
present,  it  was  yet  so  full  of  "  the  old,  old 
story,"  which  is  always  new,  that  every  heart 
which  had  ever  felt  its  sweetness  and  its  'power, 
united  as  in  a  new  song  of  gladness  and  of 
peace. 

And  while  the  children  went  to  their  out-door 
recreation,  the  visitors  were  conducted  over  the 
building  by  a  sweet-faced  matron,  who  took  a 
quiet  delight  in  exhibiting  the  neatness  and 
system  of  the  establishment.  "  Oh,  for  a  hand 
in  such  a  work !  "  thought  Mrs.  Gushing  as  their 
conductress  went  over  its  details.  Mrs.  Stanley 
related  the  scene  they  had  witnessed  in  the 
school-room,  and  thought  the  little  girl's  request 
a  simple  and  touching  one. 

"  Yes,"  said  the  matron,  I  do  not  think  it  was 
asked  in  order  that  strangers  might  hear  them 
sing.  There  are  BO  many  visitors  every  week 


240  Ralph's  Possession. 

that  the  children  cease  to  regard  it  as  extraor- 
dinary, —  almost  cease  to  notice  it.  And  Annie 
Benson  is  an  unaffected,  truthful  child." 

Their  visit  was  limited,  of  course,  but  Mrs. 
Gushing  and  Ralph  both  felt  that,  in  value,  those 
forty  minutes  exceeded  many  ordinary  hours. 
The  drive  was  renewed  with  greater  pleasure  for 
the  good  received  in  seeing  so  many  children 
happy.  That  the  kind  care  and  wise  training 
bestowed  in  that  orphan  house  was  not  the  fruit 
of  a  dead  philanthropy,  but  of  a  living  faith, 
was  too  manifest  to  be  overlooked  by  any  who 
had  eyes  to  see. 

Where  the  Spirit  of  Christ  is  there  is  the  fruit 
of  the  Spirit,  and  the  Father  is  glorified  for 
Jesus'  sake. 

Mrs.  Gushing  would  not  intrude  upon  her 
cousin's  private  charities,  nor  disturb  the  families 
visited,  by  pushing  her  own  way  among  them. 
She  would  drive  on  with  Ralph,  she  said ;  and 
would  return  that  way  at  such  time  as  Mrs. 
Stanley  might  be  ready  to  join  them.  Less  than 


Visit  to  the  Orphans.  241 

an  hour  would  suffice,  Mrs.  Stanley  thought ;  as 
the  two  houses  stood  not  far  apart.  A  by-road, 
which  she  pointed  out,  would  give  them  a 
pleasant  drive  of  half  an  hour  and  return ;  in 
the  course  of  which  they  would  get  a  pretty 
view  of  Kenyonville  a  little  northward.  They 
parted,  therefore,  at  the  house  of  Widow  Brown, 
•whose  son  Ephraim  was  crippled  these  twelve 
years  gone  ;  and  whose  daughter  Ellen  was  sole 
nurse  and  provider  for  Ephraim  and  their  some- 
what infirm  mother.  The  other  house  was  the 
scene  and  centre  of  a  different  history.  It  con- 
tained only  two  aged  persons,  Rufus  Gray  and 
his  wife  Sally.  Their  only  son,  Charles,  had 
been  but  twice  heard  from  since  he  "  'listed  "  in 
the  army  during  the  Mexican  war,  seven  years 
before. 

This  Charlie  Gray  was  then  a  short,  cheery, 
popular  fellow  of  eighteen  ;  a  full-sized  man  at 
that ;  the  hope  of  his  father  and  the  joyful  pride 
of  his  mother.  Always  a  good  son  to  them,  and 

ambitious  to  be  their  support,  he  was  yet  restive 
16 


242  Ralph's  Possession. 

under  the  restraints  of  the  tame,  rustic  life  to 
which  he  was  born  ;  and,  in  an  hour  of  reckless 
ardor,  he  took  the  fatal  step  that  he  could  not 
retrace.  Bitter  weeping  followed.  There  was 
no  reproach  ;  only  deep,  ungovernable  grief  that, 
for  the  time,  swallowed  up  the  whole  nature  of 
parents  and  son.  The  three  wept  on  each  other's 
necks.  There  was  a  night  of  anguish.  Then 
the  father  said,  "  You  must  go,  my  son ;  the 
Lord  keep  and  save  you  and  us."  And  the 
mother  kissed  him,  and  again  kissed  him ;  and 
said,  "  The  Lord  bless  you,  my  son,  and  give  you 
back  to  us  if  it  be  good  in  His  sight."  And 
they  both  forgave  him  freely,  fully,  at  once  and 
forever,  as  God  forgives  His  children.  And  for 
their  sakes  Charlie  cheered  up  for  the  little  time 
that  remained  ;  but  the  poor  boy  went  out  i» 
the  bitterness  of  his  soul.  He  never  forgave 
himself. 

In  him  his  parents  had  lost  a  noble,  filial  boy 
and  Nelly  Brown  a  pure-minded  ardent  lover 
He  had  written  his  parents  once,  just  on  em' 


Visit  to  the  Orphans.  243 

barking  at  New  Orleans;  a  letter  brimful  of 
affection,  and  of  the  penitence  that  he  could  not 
repress,  though  happy  in  their  forgiveness  ;  and 
enlivened  here  and  there  by  an  ill-concealed 
enthusiasm  for  the  adventures  in  prospect. 
(For  Rufus  and  Salty  were  not  so  destitute  then 
as  now.  The  infirm  ties  of  age  had  crept  upon 
them  rapidly  since  their  great  sorrow.)  The 
other  letter  was  to  Nelly  Brown;  written  on 
Mexican  soil ;  with  her  in  his  heart,  and  a  battle 
in  prospect.  His  natural  courage  was  great ;  he 
feared  no  evil.  But  no  one  except  Nelly  had 
supposed  that  Charlie  Gray  was  a  Christian 
Yet  there  was  one  expression  in  his  letter  to  his 
parents  that  comforted  them  concerning  this. 
44 1  believe,"  he  said,  "  if  the  blessing  of  God, 
that  you  invoked  for  me,  is  given,  it  will  come 
through  Jesus  only  ;  for  I  find  that  I  am  without 
goodness  and  without  strength,  —  though  not 
before  men."  And  to  Nelly  he  had  written, 
"  A  battle  !  Only  think  of  going  into  battle  — 
and  in  such  a  war  as  this !  If  it  were  in  self- 


244  Ralph's  Possession. 

defence,  or  in  defence  of  a  good  cause,  it  might 
be  better ;  though  bloodshed  is  sad  and  dubious 
work,  at  best.  But  think  of  giving  one's  life  in 
a  cause  that  cannot  be  justified  I  I  do  not 
doubt  you  are  praying  for  me.  And  I  am  will- 
ing to  tell  you  that  I  pray  sometimes ;  if  for 
myself,  then  be  sure  for  you  likewise,  —  lor  no 
distance  can  separate  us.  If  ones  self  is  men- 
tioned before  God,  the  other  must  be  also.  This 
for  you  only.  Farewell." 

Nelly  kept  the  secret  tenderly ;  conveying  to 
his  father  and  mother  the  message  sent  them. 
But  when  months  had  passed,  and  no  word 
came,  and  hope  had  faded  into  resignation,  then 
she  felt  herself  released ;  not  from  her  willing 
vows  to  him,  but  from  keeping  any  longer  that 
which  would  comfort  alike  all  the  mourners. 
She  showed  his  parents  all  the  letter  ;  and  they 
thanked  God,  and  theii  bowed  heads  were 
lifted  up. 

•        ••••••• 

When   Mrs.    Stanley  alighted   at  the  Brown 


Visit  to  the  Orphans.  245 

house  the  pony-carriage  drew  up  also ;  for  the 
children  must  see  Nelly  and  Ephraim.  Thus  it 
was  that  Ralph  and  his  mother  pursued  their 
drive  alone.  Ralph,  who  was  always  talkative, 
and  especially  so  when  he  had  his  mother 
quite  to  himself,  became  unusually  silent,  and 
continued  so  until  she  asked  him  of  what  he  was 
thinking. 

"  I  was  thinking,"  he  said,  "  how  different 
my  reminiscences  of  my  own  boyhood  would  be 
if  you  were  not  in  them ;  and  father,  and 
Rebekah,  and  all  that  made  the  old  house 
home.  How  doleful,  comparatively,  how  unnat- 
ural, to  be  able  to  recall  no  family  life  !  to  have 
been  only  a  little  living  bit  of  a  great  institution 
itself  alive,  it  may  be,  with  all  pleasant  charities 
and  useful  instruction,  but  containing  no  father, 
no  mother,  everybody,  everything  ;  mine  gener- 
ally and  loosely ;  nothing  mine  particularly,  — 
I  had  almost  said,  nothing  divinely.  I  can  see 
only  two  divine  institutions  on  the  earth  ;  one  is 
the  family,  the  other  is  the  church.  All  other 


240  Ralph'%  Possession. 

institutions  that  work  good  seem  to  me  (if  one 
may  speak  so)  divine  expedients  for  amelioration 
of  evil,  in  which  men  and  women  may  find  di- 
vine work  to  do.  As  to  the  family  and  the 
church,  —  in  each  men  fail  of  the  ideal,  but 
that  does  not  impeach  the  institution  as  ordained 
of  God.  And  some  of  us  are  bereft  of  the 
first ;  and  there  are  some  who  never  enter  the 
second."  Then,  pausing,  he  added,  "  Much  as  I 
prize  what  I  have  seen  to-day,  I  half  wish  I  had 
not  seen  it." 

Ralph's  mother  was  not  surprised  at  this  view 
of  the  subject,  nor  at  its  vehement  expression. 
It  was  like  Ralph.  She  knew  and  sympathized 
with  his  earnest  method  of  thought  on  all  great 
subjects,  and  his  sensitive  manner  of  analyzing 
everything  appealing  to  the  sensibilities. 

"  Some  such  thoughts,"  she  answered,  "  I  sup- 
pose occur  to  every  one  who  thinks  at  all.  I 
had  not  taken  such  an  extreme  view  of  these 
cases.  Or,  if  your  view  is  not  extreme,  I  had 
not  thought  so  far." 


Visit  to  the  Orphans.  247 

But  Mrs.  Cushing's  enthusiasm  was  not  at  all 
abated  by  Ralph's  gloomy  logic ;  and  she  went 
on  with  her  own  commentary  in  her  own  happy 
rein.  And  indeed,  Ralph  was  himself  quite  as 
Jiuch  interested,  only  taking  the  trouble  to  trou- 
ble himself  with  some  passionate  imagination  of 
a  contrast  that  never  existed  between  his  own 
childhood  as  it  was  and  as  it  might  have  been. 
The  very  happy  children  whom  he  had  that  day 
seen  for  the  most  part  did  not  know  that  there 
are  such  contrasts  in  the  world,  nor  concern 
themselves  at  all  that  they  might  have  been 
some  thousands  of  times  happier  than  they  were. 
A  few  of  the  older  ones  had  some  vivid  recollec- 
tions of  father  and  mother,  (Oh,  the  mother !) 
and  of  home  scenes  too  sweet  to  fade  away. 
And  these  few,  it  must  be  owned,  were  the  only 
ones  of  the  many  the  light  of  whose  happiness 
was  toned  with  a  shade  that  already  gave  their 
lives  the  beginnings  of  the  strength  ot  experi- 
ence. 

The  conversation  went  on  ;  they  enjoying,  the 


248  Ralph's  Possession. 

while,  the  new  scenes  of  the  new  road,  and  the 
glimpse  of  fair  Kenyonville  below. 

The  morning  had  brought  letters  from  home  ; 
Mr.  Cushing's  to  his  wife  being  remarkably  full 
of  cheerful,  homely  details,  and  full,  —  as  all  his 
had  been,  —  of  the  genuine  admiration  thai  was 
slowly  moulding  back  again  to  the  tender  re- 
gard, and  the  appreciative,  complacent  love,  so 
long  hidden  away  ;  to  come  forth  at  last  in  the 
finer  proportion  of  a  ripe  maturity.  Rebekah's 
letter  was  addressed  to  Ralph,  but  it  was  really 
half  to  him  and  half  to  their  mother.  Brimming 
it  was,  and  overflowing  with  sparkling  gladness 
at  the  continued  good  accounts  of  "  mamma's 
health,"  and  at  the  deal  of  new,  fresh  enjoy- 
ment witnessed  in  the  details  given  of  their  daily 
life.  Cousin  Cecilia's  must  be  a  charming  fami- 
ly. And  what  a  lovely  region  for  country  and 
climate !  But  the  home-life  at  "  Gushing  Cas- 
tle," as  she  gayly  called  it,  since  "  intrenched  " 
there  with  her  papa  and  their  faithful  retainers, 
—  Ralph  must  hear  of  that.  There  was  always 


Visit  to  the  Orphans.  249 

something  new  to  give.  It  was  really  wonder- 
ful how  well  things  went  on,  and  how  cheerful 
their  father  almost  uniformly  was.  The  house 
had  not  gone  to  ruin  yet. 

Such  letters,  received  every  few  days,  kept 
every  homesick  feeling  at  bay ;  and  even  made 
it  seem  almost  real  that  they  were  themselves  at 
home.  Ralph  was  sure  it  was  not  the  climate 
alone  that  was  doing  his  mother  good. 

•        ••••••• 

They  drove  up  to  the  Gray  house  just  as  Mrs. 
Stanley  was  ready  to  join  them.  She  had  made 
two  delightful  visits,  she  said ;  there  was  so 
much  living,  Christian  faith  in  those  households, 
with  its  consistent  fruit  of  simplicity  and  neat- 
ness and  industry.  The  great  lesson  always 
learned  there  was  of  our  real  oneness  in  Christ, 
and  of  our  nearness  to  each  other  on  that 
ground.  When  they  reached  home  the  visits 
were  discussed  further.  The  children  always 
loved  to  speak  of  plain,  sweet  Nelly  Brown. 
As  for  Ephraim,  Mary  did  not  "  like  "  him  very 


250  Ralph's  Possession. 

well.  At  least  it  was  not  agreeable  to  look  at 
him.  But  she  did  think  him  very  patient,  and 
she  noticed  that  his  eyes  followed  Nelly  every- 
where. Frank  thought  him  a  fine  fellow.  He 
had  been  able  to  tell  all  about  the  books  that 
Frank  had  lent  him  last,  and  they  were  always 
returned,  Frank  said,  as  perfectly  nice  as  if  they 
had  not  been  opened." 

"  But  old  Mr.  Gray,"  said  Franky,  «*  isn't  he  a 
delightful  old  man  ?  " 

"  /like  him  best  of  all,"  said  Mary.  "  He  has 
such  a  bearing;  so  somehow  dignified  and  yet 
somehow  humble.  He  has  a  pleasant  way  of 
meeting  every  one.  And  then,  he  converses  as 
if  he  had  brains  and  a  soul." 

"  Oh,  May  !  "  said  Franky,  "  you  are  outra- 
geous with  your  likes  and  dislikes  !  " 

"  I  like  him,"  said  Janie,  "  because  he  loves 
God,  and  has  a  pleasant  voice.  But  all  those 
people  have  pleasant  voices,  except  Ephraim; 
and  I  suppose  he  can't  help  the  crack  in  his." 

•*  Oh,  Janie  I  little  Janie  I  "  cried  Ralph.  "  Do 


Visit  to  the  Orphans.  251 

we  like  you  because  you  are  wimple,  or  because 
you  are  funny  ?  " 

Janie  did  not  know ;  but  as  Frank  thought  it 
must  be  because  she  was  simple,  Janie  thought 
BO  too.  "  But  since  you  love  me,"  she  said,  "  it 
is  no  matter  why" 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

ATONEMENT. 

H 

RALPH'S  mind  had  been  busy  with  other 
thoughts  than  those  touching  the  Orphan 
House.  He  had  seen  and  heard  much 
that  afternoon  that  had  condemned  him, 
and  that  had  raised  again  the  question,  ringing 
more  loudly  than  ever,  What  is  truth  ?  "  A 
real  Pilate-question  "  he  said  to  himself.  "  And 
if  I  do  not  receive  Christ  completely  it  is  as  if  I 
sent  him  away  to  be  crucified  ;  for  it  is  impossi- 
ble to  have  nothing  to  do  with  Him." 

The  scripture-recitations  had  impressed  Ralph 
(252) 


Atonement.  253 

tenderly,  deeply ;  but  the  singing  of  the  hymn 
had  not  expressed  the  language  of  his  heart. 
How  could  it  ?  He  was  "  recognizing,  not  be- 
lieving." There  was  that  in  Christ  that  he 
needed.  By  his  own  confession  he  had  long 
known  and  felt  this,  and  that  no  one  else  could 
satisfy  his  sense  of  need,  —  his  unrest.  He  even 
thought  that  he  could  not  bear  to  hear  that  Holy 
One  spoken  against.  Yet  he  was  not  laying  hia 
sins  on  Jesus.  He  was  not  fully  satisfied  that 
Jesus,  whom  he  called  "  Lord,"  be  all;  and  Ralph 
Gushing  saved  for  nothing  —  except  the  mighty 
price  that  Jesus  paid  alone.  There  was  within 
him  an  enmity  toward  God's  chosen  way  of  ex- 
pressing to  the  universe  His  justice,  unswerving 
and  all  lovely  in  its  moral  rectitude  ;  an  enmity 
against  the  demonstration  of  Calvary  that  the 
mercy  of  God  (in  which  God  delights)  yields 
nothing  of  truth,  and  that  the  peace  of  God  is 
not  separated  frcm  a  righteousness  that  is  clean 
in  His  sight.  The  blood  of  Christ  was  not  pre- 
cious to  Ralph ;  the  putting  away  of  sin  by  that 


254  Ralph's  Possession. 

means,  and  with  no  merit  of  ours,  was  not  to  hia 
taste.  There  might  be  with  God  some  higher, 
sweeter,  more  perfect  judgment  in  this  than  is 
possible  to  any  mere  natural  or  human  estimate 
Ralph  was  conscious  of  quailing  under  these  re- 
flections. If  God  had  spoken ;  if  God,  all-wise, 
and  infinite  in  goodness  as  in  understanding,  had 
spoken,  it  was  man's  business  to  listen,  and  to 
say,  "  Amen.  O  my  God !  Flessed  be  thy  name 
and  Thy  glory,  and  blessed  be  Thou  in  the 
hearts  of  Thy  creatures ;  for  Thou  art  God 
alone,  and  beside  Thee  there  is  no  Saviour.'* 

Ralph  knew  this ;  but  he  liked  to  place  that 
IF  before  himself,  for  himself  to  stumble  at.  It 
seemed  to  make  an  excuse  for  his  unstibmission 
to  God's  word,  that  was  piercing  him  to  the 
dividing  asunder  of  soul  and  spirit. 

Was  Jesus  then  to  be  valued  as  the  slain 
Lamb,  who,  in  pouring  out  His  soul  unto  death 
had  borne  the  sins  of  many  ?  Or  was  the  in- 
finite grace  of  that  to  be  rejected  ? 

He  remembered  (he  could  not  forget)  Mrg. 


Atonement.  255 

Stanley's  remark  to  him  a  few  days  before, 
—  "When  you  get  the  view  of  Christ  and  of  His 
work  that  God  gives,  your  heart  will  be  broken.'* 
He  remembered  the  teacher's  reply  to  Willie 
Jones,  "  God's  judgments  are  for  us,  not  against 
us,  if  we  are  valuing  the  Redeemer  s  work  and 
sacrifice  as  He  does" 

Ralph  noticed  that  the  two  remarks  fitted  well 
together,  and  his  soul  rose  up  against  their  coin- 
cidence. For  it  showed  him  that  he  was  surround- 
ed by  persons  who  were  fully  satisfied  that  the 
things  written  of  Jesus  should  be  received  as  they 
are  written  ;  that  the  declaration  of  an  Atone- 
ment, one  and  sufficient,  expresses  the  sovereign 
mind  of  the  blessed  God.  He  knew  that  these 
persons  had  what  he  had  not,  —  namely,  peace. 
And  they  seemed  to  have  the  Presence  of  a 
Person ;  safety  in  a  living  Saviour.  To  him 
Christ  was  admirable  ;  he  thought  adorable  ;  but 
far  off.  To  them  Christ  was  the  worshipped, 
the  Beloved,  the  All-sufficient,  the  abiding  One; 
never  far  off.  Ralph  knew  that  this  was  what 


256  Ralph's  Possession. 

he  needed ;  and  in  some  sense  he  wanted  it* 
Arid  he  may  have  been  right  in  supposing  that 
he  wished  to  accord  to  the  Lord  Jesus  all  His 
claims ;  to  render  Him  all  His  due. 

But  this  being  saved  for  nothing,  as  regards 
ourselves,  and  saved  by  blood,  —  Ralph  was  not 
ready  for  this. 

For  it  is  not  in  human  nature  to  submit  to 
the  righteousness  of  God. 

During  a  conversation  with  his  mother  the 
same  evening,  Ralph  gave  some  expression  to 
these  thoughts.  And  the  responsive  thoughts 
offered  by  her,  spoken  in  great  tenderness,  kept 
faithfully  before  him  that  his  state  was  simply 
one  of  rebellion  against  sovereign  Redemption, 
against  the  written  Word  of  God,  which  arrests 
the  conscience  with  its  own  proof  as  being  of 
God  and  not  of  man.  "  God  could  not  give 
peace,"  she  said,  "  until  God's  way  of  peace 
should  be  accepted.  God's  right  hand  has  ex- 
alted Jesus,  a  Prince  and  a  Saviour.  He  is  as 
absolutely  the  one  as  the  other,  and  He  will  not 


Atonement.  257 

yield  the  right  of  being  received.  Bat,"  she 
added,  "  our  dear  cousin  said  too  truly,  my  poor 
son.  Your  heart  is  not  broken.  It  is  still  stout 
against  this  way  of  God's  truth  and  grace." 

"  Have  you  not  great  anxiety  about  Cousin 
Ralph  ?  "  asked  Mrs.  Stanley,  as  the  two  ladies 
were  sitting  together,  Ralph  having  gone  up- 
stairs. 

"  Not  anxiety"  said  Mrs.  Gushing.  "  I  have 
great  sorrow  ;  for  he  is  not  only  not  happy,  but 
is,  we  know,  very  wrong.  But  I  have  no  doubt 
that  the  work  of  God  is  underlying  all  this. 
Let  him  be  in  your  prayers.  That  God  is  hear- 
ing us  I  do  not  doubt." 

Mrs.  Gushing  had  reason  to  speak  thus.  With- 
out controversy,  God's  promise  to  the  people  of 
Jesus  is  that,  if  they  honor  Him  before  their 
clrldren,  these  shall  not  be  forgotten  before  God. 
From  their  earliest  days  she  had  sought  to  im- 
press her  children  with  the  truth  as  it  is  in 
Jesus,  both  by  teaching  and  example.  From 

the  first,  and   without  ceasing,  there  had  been 
17 


258  Ralph's   Possession. 

prayer  equally  for  them  and  for  their  father,  in 
the  belief  that  such  prayer  is  according  to  God's 
will,  and  that  in  answering  us  He  is  but  fulfilling 
His  own  gracious  promise.  The  fact  that  neither 
Ralph  nor  his  father  were  yet  glad  in  God's 
salvation,  did  not  shake  her  faith  in  God's  prom, 
ise,  nor  in  His  loving-kindness ;  but  it  opened 
her  heart  to  a  fuller  learning  of  two  needed  les- 
sons. First :  that  God,  infinitely  good,  is  sov- 
ereign still,  and  works  when  He  will.  And 
second,  that  there  had  been  failures  in  her  own 
faith  and  example  which  rendered  it  plain  that 
this  seeming  delay  on  God's  part  conveyed  a 
discipline  altogeth  ,-r  right,  and  for  her  profit.  It 
never  occurred  to  her  to  find  any  difficulty  in 
harmonizing  all  this  with  the  undoubted  fact  of 
Ralph's  accountability  for  his  own  unbelief,  and 
of  God's  waiting  readiness  to  receive  the  heart's 
confession  at  any  moment  that  it  might  be 
yielded.  For  the  filial  method  of  searching  the 
deep  things  of  God  is  as  much  above  the  con- 
troversial, as  the  heavens  are  above  the  earth, 


Atonement.  259 

God's  way  is  a  complete  way,  not  patterned  after 
any  way  of  man.  And  the  heart  taught  of  God, 
and  happy  in  its  place  of  adoption,  does  not  ask 
the  head  to  analyze  for  it  its  consciousness  of  the 
truth  of  truth,  and  the  love  of  love,  and  the  light 
of  the  knowledge  of  God's  glory  in  the  face  of 
Jesus  Christ. 

«••••• 
The  next  day  the  drive  was,  as  had  been 
planned,  on  the  Nashville  road,  toward  the 
Jamesons'.  This  was  like  *k  renewing  old  scenes," 
Ralph  sa;4.  But  the  country  between  the  Stan- 
leys and  the  Jamesons  looked  differently  now 
than  on  that  moonlit  night.  The  foliage  was 
older,  and  more  of  it  had  fallen,  and  the  dreamy 
sense  of  that  bright,  dim,  half-penetrable  lustre, 
•was  gone.  What,  then,  is  that  strange,  lumi- 
nous essence  which,  by  night,  spreads  both  light 
and  veil  in  one  over  the  landscape,  and  stamps 
the  mark  of  its  impress  on  each  subdued  fea- 
ture? allowing  the  pleased  vision  to  see  unsub- 
stantially, -  -  multiplying  shadows  while  it  keeps 


260  Ralph's  Possession. 

darkness  at  bay  ?  It  serves  a  purpose,  but  it 
makes  no  life,  nor  does  it  reveal  anything  in  its 
true  aspect.  Let  the  light  of  da}-  come  in,  and 
the  charm  is  uncharmed,  and  the  pretty  thing 
vanished,  —  not  being  even  missed.  May  there 
be  some  moral  fact  symbolical  here  that  our  dull 
senses  fail  to  find  ? 

Rex  was  with  the  children  to-day.  Rex  did 
not  drive  out  often ;  having  a  fondness  for  home, 
and  especially  for  the  library,  where  he  felt  him- 
self royal  possessor,  —  although  he  set  no  value 
on  the  books,  nor  even  knew  there  was  anything 
fair  either  in  look  or  love  of  those  vine-clad 
shelves.  If,  in  his  regal  state,  he  could  have 
been  lonely  in  the  vacant  library  —  his  depopu- 
lated kingdom  —  all  chance  of  that  was  lost  in 
the  company  of  Jack  the  canary,  who  sang  to 
him  the  livelong  time  just  for  irrational  joy  at 
the  absence  of  human  creatures.  But  Rex  had 
a  long  acquaintance  with  the  Jamesons,  whose 
estate  he  regarded  as  provincial  to  his  own,  and 
for  whom  he  felt  an  interest  half  lordly,  half 


Atonement.  261 

affectionate.  Thus  it  was  that,  hearing  the 
destination  of  to-day's  drive  declared,  he  (with 
a  reflective  self-possession  that  asks  leave  of  no 
one)  placed  himself  in  the  pony-carriage  in 
ample  season ;  the  children,  his  loving  subjects, 
seating  themselves  around  him  as  best  they 
might.  Rex  was  always  allowed  to  do  as  ha 
liked  when  he  essayed  nothing  wrong.  Hence, 
when  he  chose  to  take  a  drive  he  was  made 
quite  welcome,  especially  by  Frank  and  Janie. 
Mary  had  as  lief  he  would  stay  at  home  ;  al- 
though, when  at  home,  and  in  nobody's  way,  she 
confessed  to  liking  him  very  well.  But  it  was  a 
matter  of  course,  she  said,  that  Rex  should  go 
with  them  when  they  went  to  the  Jameson's. 
And  away  they  went  at  a  round  pace. 
Prince,  the  pony,  who  was  growing  old,  had 
improved  greatly  since  Penn  and  Philip  had 
taken  the  lead.  There  was  a  spark  of  enthu- 
siasm, and  a  whole  fire  of  equine  ambition,  re- 
maining in  the  stocky  little  animal  yet ;  and  his 
old,  tired  limbs,  that  used  to  be  so  nimble,  were 


262  Ralph's   Possession. 

supple  and  young  again  under  the  stimulus  of 
instinctive  energy  at  the  bare  idea  of  being  out- 
done. If  he  could  have  spoken  he  would  have 
said,  "  You  ought  to  have  seen,  you  big  young 
fellows,  what  I  could  do  once."  But  there  was 
something  better  than  this  in  Prince  after  all. 
If  he  had  a  weakness  regarding  his  own  reputa- 
tion, he  had  also  a  high  regard  for  the  society  of 
his  own  species;  and  would  leap  a  hedge  any 
day  for  the  sake  of  grazing  in  horse  company. 
Hence,  the  incoming  of  his  new  acquaintances 
to  share  his  stable  had  been  counted  no  intru- 
sion. It  was  nothing  to  him  whether  they  ate 
of  his  grain  or  their  own.  He  was  younger  in 
the  stable,  as  well  as  on  the  road,  because  no 
longer  enjoying  his  declining  days  alone.  It 
would  be  a  mournful  day  for  the  rejuvenated 
Prince  when  Penn  and  Philip  should  leave  him. 

•  •••••ft 

When  the  two  carriages  entered  the  enclosure 
bounding  the  homestead  of  which  the  white 
house  was  heart  and  centre,  Ralph's  curiosity, 


Atonement.  263 

which  had  taken  a  comical  turn  from  the  start, 
sobered  a  degree  or  two.  He  began  to  think 
of  the  introduction  to  the  lady  dwelling  there 
as  a  matter  of  polite  fact ;  and  of  the  meeting 
with  the  young  preacher  less  as  a  matter  of 
curiosity  than  as  a  matter  of  study,  and  one  that 
might  prove  of  more  than  passing  interest.  The 
house,  too,  in  the  midst  of  its  modest  and  taste- 
ful surroundings,  looked  less  romantic  and  more 
dignified  than  in  the  moonlight  of  that  night  of 
long  ago.  Everything  in  the  aspect  of  the 
place  appealed  more  to  respect  than  to  curiosity. 
Ralph  Gushing  was  not  of  a  temperament  in 
which  superstition  has  any  place.  But  he  was 
possessed  of  a  certain  sobriety  inherent  to  some 
deep  natures ;  full  of  healthful,  manly  freshness 
that  can  abruptly,  and  without  shock  or  affecta- 
tion, take  the  place  of  a  mirthful  mood  (  so  good 
and  necessary  in  itself)  whenever  the  real  is 
best  realized.  This  sobriety  of  which  we  speak, 
sweet  and  becoming  where  it  flourishes  most,  is 
about  as  far  from  solemnity  in  any  proper  sense, 


264  Ralph's  Possession. 

as  the  verdured  Highlands  are  from  the  peaks 
of  Teneriffe  or  of  the  Jura.  The  one  is 
within  the  reach  and  compass  and  understanding 
of  every  manly  soul ;  the  other  is  incomprehen- 
sible, and  touched  only  by  the  few.  The  one  is 
within  happy  access  of  any  flight  stronger  than 
a  butterfly's;  the  other  is  inaccessible  except 
under  some  great  impulse  that  we  call  divine. 
If  Ralph  was  sobered  when  he  entered  the 
premises  of  these  strangers,  soon  to  be  friends, 
it  was  simply  that  his  strongest,  manliest,  truest 
side  was  outermost. 

Zed  rang  the  bell,  with  Mrs.  Stanley's  card 
announcing  her  friends.  The  door  was  opened 
by  Alice,  who  retired  with  her  usual  well-mean- 
ing infelicity.  But  Mrs.  Jameson  would  have  no 
ceremony.  She  came  out  at  once,  not  waiting 
for  them  to  alight,  overflowing  with  warm, 
decorous  greetings.  Graceful,  simple,  cordial, 
self-possessed,  not  overlooking  the  children,  and 
filling  all  with  a  serene  sense  of  welcome ;  she 
waited  upon  them  in  with  a  genuine  dignity  of 


Atonement.  265 

which  she  had  no  need  to  be  conscious,  and 
which  disturbed  no  one,  because  it  belonged  en- 
tirely to  its  possessor,  and  moved  in  a  sweetness 
that  seemed  part  of  itself.  Entering,  they  met 
Alice  who  had  advanced  as  far  as  the  hall.  She 
was  glad  to  see  Mrs.  Stanley,  glad  to  see  the 
children,  and  no  one  could  see  whether  she  was 
glad  to  see  their  two  friends  or  not. 

They  were  seated  in  the  south  parlor  where 
everything,  though  inexpensive,  bespoke  the  re- 
finement that  ruled  the  house.  In  answer  to 
inquiries  for  Frederick,  Mrs.  Jameson  said  that 
he  was  in  one  of  the  orchards  and  would  be 
disappointed  not  to  see  them.  They  must  allow 
her  to  send  for  him.  But  Alice,  fortunately  if 
not  handsomely,  reminded  her  mother  that  there 
was  no  one  to  send ;  si:ice  the  only  servant 
"  Jim,"  was  gathering  the  fruit,  whereupon 
Franky  begged  to  be  allowed  to  bear  Mrs. 
Jameson's  message,  "  and  in  that  way  he  would 
have  just  what  he  coveted;  the  first  greeting 
with  Fred." 


£66  Ralph's  Possession. 

"  My  dear  boy,  yes  indeed,"  said  Mrs  Jameson. 
"  With  your  mamma's  permission  I  would  have 
sent  a  note  by  the  driver.  But  you  shall  have 
your  wish,  and  the  note  need  not  be  written." 

And  Franky  soon  brought  Frederick,  who 
did  not  look  ill  in  his  russet  suit  of  working 
clothes.  His  clear  brown  eyes  and  frank  ease  of 
manner  were  ornaments  that  he  never  examined, 
and  could  never  put  off.  They  were  quite  suffi- 
cient, and  by  their  means  alone  he  was  well 
introduced  everywhere.  He  might  be  the 
preacher ;  he  might  well  enough  be  anything 
else  honest  and  good. 

Between  these  two  young  men  an  acquain- 
tance was  not  long  in  forming.  There  are  cer- 
tain spiritual  affinities  that  may  find  analogies  in 
the  laboratory,  certain  natures  that  draw  out 
certain  others,  —  or  that  are  drawn  into  each 
other,  neither  being  the  stronger.  Of  these 
affinities,  the  physical  are  not  a  whit  better  un- 
derstood than  the  spiritual.  In  each  case  alike, 
the  facts  that  we  recognize,  we  acquiesce  in  ; 
that  is  all. 


Atonement.  267 

Mrs.  Stanley  and  Mrs.  Jameson  saw  each 
other  too  seldom  to  make  short  visits  possible. 
There  was  too  much  to  say.  Indeed,  neither 
the  Jamesons  nor  their  guests  were  persons  with 
whom  conversation  could  fl;ig ;  nor  was  there 
likely  to  be  much  note  taken  of  time.  Mrs 
Jameson  had  taken  Ralph  from  Frederick,  and 
Frederick  had  turned  to  the  ladies.  Franky  and 
Mary  were  absorbed  in  listening  to  the  old  folks, 
and  Alice  Jameson  was  entertaining  Janie, —  her 
only  pet  in  the  wide  world  except  her  brother 
Robert.  Ralph  had  been  much  interested  in 
Frederick's  account  of  the  way  in  which  the 
homestead  had  been  kept  up  since  his  father 
died ;  of  the  success  of  the  vineyards  and 
orchards  ;  of  the  sales  of  the  fruits  in  Nashville, 
and  of  the  happy  hours  spent  at  his  cabinet- 
work, for  which  he  had  as  many  orders  as  he 
could  well  fill.  Ralph  making  some  reference  to 
this  when  speaking  with  Mrs.  Jameson  of  horti- 
culture North  and  South,  the  lady  gave  expres- 
sion to  some  happy  thought  as  to  "  our  Heavenly 


268  Ralph's  Possession. 

Father's  care  and  abundant  blessing."  Such 
thoughts  were  always  uppermost  with  Mrs. 
Jameson,  and  their  expression  was  as  natural 
and  genuine  as  it  was  inevitable,  because  the 
thoughts  were  so  abundantly  in  the  heart.  The 
conversation  flowing  out  of  this  remark  showed 
Mrs.  Jameson  to  Ralph  as  another  of  those 
enviable  persons  by  whom  he  seemed  surrounded 
of  late,  who,  holding  fast  the  letter  of  the 
Scriptures,  were  yet  at  rest  as  no  one  else 
seemed  to  be.  And  it  showed  Ralph  to  Mrs. 
Jameson  as  a  lovely  young  admirer  of  Christ, 
who  was  well  conscious  of  lacking  something 
yet.  This  consciousness  he  defined  for  her  him- 
self. "  It  is,"  he  said,  "  a  consciousness  of  not 
possessing  and  being  possessed  by  Christ.  At 
least  I  conclude  that  is  it." 

Mrs.  Jameson  was  not  an  inquisitor.  She  man- 
ifested her  interest  in  her  young  friend's  difficul- 
ties by  a  close  attention  to  what  he  was  disposed 
to  say,  and  by  such  responses  or  remarks  as  might 
lead  him  to  examine  the  Word  of  God  more  at* 


Atonement.  2G9 

tentively,  and  to  give  it  his  whole  confidence. 
"  If  you  are  settled,"  she  said,  "  that  the  Bible 
affords  its  own  evidence  of  Divine  authorship, 
then  you  will  find  something  there  to  rest  upon, 
and  God's  way  of  peace,  as  declared  in  it,  is 
surely  not  submitted  for  man's  criticism,  but  for 
his  acceptance." 

Already,  when  defining  his  own  position, 
Ralph  had  cited  a  verse  from  the  Epistle  of 
John  (whose  character,  by-the-by,  as  a  "  sou 
of  thunder  "  is,  throughout  his  epistles,  remark- 
ably interwoven  with  the  loving  and  beloved). 
The  verse*  was  given  by  Ralph  in  candid  avowal 
of  his  own  condition  as  one  of  darkness.  "  For," 
he  said,  "fellowship  must  express  a  living,  con- 
scious state  between  living  persons.  If  I  should 
profess  to  such  relationship  to  Christ  as  that 
rord  expresses  for  all  living  Christians,  I  should 
simply  lie  ;  nothing  less  or  more."  Ralph  could 
now  and  then  quote  a  verse  from  the  Bible  as 
expressing  a  real  Divine  truth,  to  be  in  no  wise 

« 1st  John,  i,  6. 


2TO  Ralph's  Possession. 

doubted,  yet  would  stumble  at  something  in 
the  immediate  context.  As  if  God  would  have 
given  us  a  written  embodiment  of  truth  so  lame, 
so  sick,  and  out  of  joint  in  all  its  pages  as  to 
require  every  art  of  human  logic  to  prop  it  up. 
In  this  case  he  had  forgotten  the  verse  following, 
to  which  Mrs.  Jameson  afterward  called  his  at- 
tention :  "  But  if  we  walk  in  the  light  as  He 
is  in  the  light,  we  have  fellowship  one  with 
another,  and  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ,  His  Son, 
cleanseth  us  from  all  sin."  "  To  walk  in  the 
light,"  she  said,  "  must  be  to  let  God's  whole 
word  shine  upon  us,  and  direct  us.  As  the  Lord 
Jesus  Himself  said,  *  My  mother  and  my  breth- 
ren are  those  which  hear  the  word  of  God  and 
do  it.' r' 

"  But,"  said  Ralph,  "  did  they  of  whom  that 
was  said  know  anything  about  the  doctrine  of 
atonement  as  it  is  now  declared,  —  by  the  blood 
of  Christ  ?  " 

*'  Our  Saviour  Himself  uttered  many  declara- 
tions concerning  His  blood  and  His  sacrifice," 


Atonement.  271 

said  Mrs.  Jameson.  "  The  doctrine  was  perhaps 
less  clearly  stated  then  than  afterward.  We 
can  receive  or  reject  only  what  is  presented. 
But  we  are  made  responsible  to  receive  what 
is  presented.  The  Lord  just  there,  on  the  oc- 
casion referred  to,  had  been  enjoining  them: 
4  Take  heed  how  ye  hear.'  *  Unto  you  that  hear 
g'lall  more  be  given.'  And  that  there  was  *  noth- 
ing secret  that  should  not  be  made  manifest.' ' 

It  was  near  this  point  in  their  conveisation  thaf 
Mrs.  Jameson's  attention  was  called  by  Mrs. 
Stanley,  who  desired  her  to  hear  some  statements 
of  her  cousin's  concerning  certain  charitable  in 
stilutions  at  the  North.  Frederick,  who  had 
overheard  his  mother's  last  words  with  Ralph, 
gave  her  his  chair,  and,  sitting  again  by  Ralph 
just  as  he  had  been  seated  when  speaking  of 
the  vineyards  and  cotton-fields,  he  said  with  the 
same  frank  manner  and  manly  cheer,  "  Our 
faith  does  not  stand  in  the  wisdom  of  men,  but 
in  the  power  of  God.  We  speak  as  the  Wore1 

•  Luke  viii. — Mark  iv. 


272  Ralph's   Possession. 

of  God  speaks,  of  *  being  justified  freely  by  His 
grace  through  the  redemption  that  is  in  Christ 
Jesus,  whom  God  hath  set  forth  to  be  a  propitia- 
tion through  faith  in  His  blood;  ...  to  declare 
at  this  time  His  righteousness :  that  He  might 
be  junt  and  the  justifier  of  him  that  belie veth 
in  Jesus." 

There  was  power  in  those  words.  Ralph  felt 
it.  And  they  were  sweetly,  strongly  spoken. 
Was  it  the  words,  or  was  it  their  enunciation, 
that  seemed  like  shafts  of  light  ?  He  would  so 
much  prefer  to  hear  more  than  to  answer,  that 
he  bowed  and  made  no  reply.  Frederick  con- 
tinued :  "  Such  words  are,  to  them  that  perish, 
foolishness.  Nevertheless  this  Jesus,  the  Lord 
from  heaven,  was  delivered  for  our  offences  and 
raised  again  for  our  justification.  This  is  the 
testimony.  It  is  God's  testimonj'.  He  has  given 
to  us  eternal  life,  and  this  life  is  in  His  Son." 

"  That  is  not  disputed,"  said  Ralph.  "  I  dare 
say  the  life  is  in  some  way  in  Christ.  I  feel  that 
it  must  be.  But  there  is  another  point  in  your 


Atonement.  273 

theology  where  I  fail  to  see  any  beauty,  —  that 
'  without  shedding  of  blood  is  no  remission.' " 

It  was  not  strange  that  a  shade  of  pain  passed 
quick  across  Frederick's  face,  nor  that  he  leaned 
a  moment  with  his  brow  supported  by  both 
hands  and  his  face  quite  concealed.  There  was 
certainly  no  affectation  in  it.  No  one  could 
have  failed  to  see  that  some  quick,  sharp,  deep 
necessity  bowed  down  that  head  and  kept  it 
bowed.  And  when  he  raised  it  again  to  speak, 
the  eye  was  mellowed  and  the  voice  tremulous, 
—  one  could  not  have  told  whether  with  anguish 
or  tenderness. 

'*  Mrs.  Gushing,"  he  said,  "  we  preach  not  our- 
selves, but  Christ  Jesus  the  Lord.  If  we  do  not 
preach  Christ  crucified ;  Christ  the  ransom ; 
Christ's  death  for  the  life  of  His  people  ;  we  are 
not  preaching  the  Gospel  of  God.  There  must 
be  some  awful  significance  in  the  fact  that  the 
Son  of  the  living  God  assumed  a  nature  in  which 
He  could  receive  the  wages  of  sin  in  His  own 

person  ;  and  that  He  did  receive  it.     What  then 
18 


274  Ralph's  Possession. 

does  it  signify  ?  Surely  only  that  He  was  there 
in  His  people's  place.  The  momentary  tak- 
ing, by  Christ  the  Lord,  of  the  wages  due 
sin,  has  taken  condemnation  away  from  His  be- 
lieving people.  The  wages  was  by  Him  fully  re- 
ceived. The  law  cannot  be  executed  twice. 
Now  as  to  the  blood :  the  whole  scriptures  are 
full  of  the  idea  that  the  life  is  in  the  blood. 
Blood  represents  life.  The  shedding  of  blood  is 
the  taking  of  life.  When  the  blood  of  Jesus 
was  shed,  His  life  was  taken  from  the  earth. 
But  death,  or  the  forfeiture  of  life,  being  the 
wages  of  sin,  it  was  not  possible  that  the  Holy 
One  of  God  should  taste  it  for  himself.  He 
tasted  it  for  us.  In  it  He  received  the  condem- 
nation due  His  people  ;  for  He  suffered  as  the 
Infinite  One,  and  brought  in  life  in  infinite  meas- 
ure. God,  who  delights  in  mercy,  is  now  seen  at 
once  as  the  Just  and  the  Justifier.  We  receive, 
we  rejoice  in,  forgiveness  ;  but  in  God's  perfect 
way,  wherein  He  delivers  and  sanctifies  those 
whom  the  law  had  condemned. 


Atonement.  21  b 

"  There  is  nothing  sound,  then,  in  making  any 
difficulty  about  faith  in  His  blood,  or  being 
washed  in  His  blood.  To  mock,  as  some  do,  at 
this  Divinely  revealed  truth  on  the  assumption 
that  the  doctrine  represents  God  as  bloodthirsty, 
proves  only  that  sin  in  us  is  blind  to  His  grace 
and  mad  against  it.  (All  such  sin  is  surely  of 
the  same  root  as  that  which  crucified  Him  once.) 
For  it  is  to  the  praise  of  the  glory  of  His  grace 
that  He  has  made  us  accepted  in  the  Beloved  ; 
in  whom  we  have  redemption  through  His 
blood,  the  forgiveness  of  sins,  according  to  the 
riches  of  His  grace.  God  being  holy,  and  sin 
being  exceeding  sinful,  how  shall  any  dare  to 
count  as  an  unholy  thing,  or  valueless,  that 
blood  of  the  covenant  of  redemption  wherewith, 
in  God's  perfect  way,  the  sinner's  pardon  is 
sealed?" 

And  as  Ralph  again  simply  bowed,  Frederick 
continued,  — 

"  Indeed,  I  cannot  understand,  if  you  regard 
Jesus  as  the  Son  of  God,  the  Lord  from  heaven, 


276  Ralph's  Possession. 

how  you  can  see  any  meaning  in  His  death,  any 
explanation  of  it  but  redemption,  atonement,  the 
bringing  in  of  eternal  life  to  all  those  not  reject- 
ing it." 

He  paused.  He  had  spoken  calmly,  tenderly, 
in  no  heat  of  controversy  ;  but  earnestly,  with 
quick,  decided  utterance  ;  as  a  man  must  speak 
who  is  speaking  what  he  knows  and  testifying 
what  he  has  seen,  the  issues  being  life  or  death 
only. 

Ralph  replied,  "  You  speak  convincingly  ;  and 
I  may  say  that  I  have  not  before  considered 
all  this  as  fully  as  you  here  present  it." 

"  Mr.  Gushing,"  continued  Frederick,  "I  must 
be  safe  in  saying  that  you  are  not  holding  to  the 
eternal  Godhead  of  Christ,  the  Creatorship  of 
the  Redeemer.  This  is  not  to  you  the  truth  of 
all  truth :  the  heart's  most  precious  conviction." 

"  You  are  partly  right,"  said  Ralph.  "  The 
impression  that  Christ  is  more  than  human,  that 
He  is  in  some  sense  Divine,  is  with  me  more 
than  acquiescence  in  a  theological  dogma.  I  have 


Atonement.  277 

held  it  as  a  moral  fact  of  great  value  to  our 
race,  the  full  significance  of  which  I  have  been 
conscious  of  not  grasping.  I  have  felt  that 
there  is  that  in  Christ,  as  a  living  person,  which 
I  want  and  cannot  rest  without.  But  there  are 
Scripture  expressions  with  regard  to  His  God- 
head which  I  own  are  not  held  and  cherished  as 
convictions." 

"  No,  surely  not  "  said  Frederick.  "  When  it 
is  so,  you  will  be  worshipping  Him ;  at  peace  in 
Him  ;  and  His  blood  will  be  precious  to  you,  — 
the  cleansing  blood.  For  it  is  as  true  now  as  it 
was  in  apostolic  days,  that  '  whosoever  believeth 
that  Jesus  is  the  Christ  is  born  of  God  ;  '  and 
*  whosoever  shall  confess  that  Jesus  is  the  Son  of 
God,  God  dwelleth  in  him  and  he  in  God.'  " 

*'  The  mere  confession  does  not  cost  much 
now-a-days,"  said  Ralph ;  "  and  hence  it  seems 
to  me  no  test." 

"  No,"  replied  Frederick,  "  in  the  good  order- 
ing of  God  the  mere  avowal  of  one's  self  as  a 
believer  in  Jesus,  is  not  now-a-days  at  great 


278  Ralph'*  Possession. 

cost,  —  in  general.  But  a  genuine  confession  19 
more  than  a  mere  saying  so.  The  heart's  con- 
fession of  that  living  truth  is  always  the  work  of 
the  Holy  Spirit;  for  flesh  and  blood  does  not 
reveal  it  nor  make  it  precious.  Let  the  heart 
once  be  in  possession  of  the  truth  as  it  is  in 
Jesus,  and  the  confession  of  it  becomes  as 
necessary  to  the  individual  as  it  is  to  the  glory 
of  redemption.  The  heart's  belief  is  attested 
by  confession.  But,  as  toward  man,  the  quality 
of  the  confession  is  attested  by  the  fruit  that 
follows ;  whether  of  endurance  under  persecu- 
tion, or  of  love,  gentleness,  temperance,  while 
surrounded  by  evil.  For  when  the  Son  of  God 
gave  Himself  for  us,  it  was  that  He  might  re- 
deem us  from  all  iniquity,  and  purify  unto  Him- 
self a  peculiar  people  zealous  of  good  works." 
"  I  do  feel,"  said  Ralph,  *'  that  it  would  be 
good  to  hold  all  these  matters  as  assuredly  as 
you  do.  But  I  still  have  to  say  that  I  do  not. 
A  nd  as  to  good  works,  I  know  very  well  that  I 
have  seen  many  persons  zealous  about  them  who 


Atonement.  279 

acknowledged  no  need  of  a  Saviour.  I  never 
could  feel  in  sympathy  with  those  mortals  who 
are  quite  satisfied  with  their  own  lives.  But 
there  is  something  not  consonant  with  any 
degree  of  self-complacence,  in  this  idea  of  sal- 
vation for  nothing;  life  unmerited." 

"  Ah !  But  what  have  we  to  do  with  self 
complacence  in  such  a  matter  as  this  ?  "  asked 
Frederick.  "It  is  indeed  nature's  way.  But 
refine  it  to  any  degree  you  may,  it  is  extin- 
guished before  the  first  glimpse  of  the  Divine 
holiness.  Human  conceptions  here  are  so  low 
that  humanity  measures  ths  Infinite  by  itself. 
As  to  good  works  again ;  there  are  none  until 
we  have  life  in  Christ,  —  standing  saved,  com- 
plete in  Him.  Here  again  the  human  scale 
seeks  to  measure  the  Divine,  and  fails.  But 
when,  in  that  eternal  bond-service  —  sweet  as 
absolute  —  in  which  the  Lord  holds  His  dear 
people,  our  conscience  is  purged  from  dead 
works  (  no  more  law-working  to  get  life  )  then, 
m  Him,  begin  "  good  "  works ;  for  Thou  O  Lord 


280  Ralph's  Possession. 

hast  wrought  all  our  works  in  us.*  This  brings 
us  to  the  blood-shedding  again.  The  blood  of 
Christ,  who  through  the  eternal  Spirit  offered 
Himself  without  spot  unto  God,  can  purge  our 
conscience  from  dead  works  to  serve  the  living 
G-od.^  For  the  Way,  the  Truth,  and  the  Life 
are  in  Jesus  our  Lord,  who  was  delivered  for  our 
justification.  To  as  many  as  received  Him  to 
them  gave  He  the  right  to  become  the  children 
of  God ;  even  to  them  that  believe  on  His  name. 
It  is  not  a  getting,  it  is  a  receiving  with  which  we 
are  concerned." 

Rebekah's  words  exactly.  Ralph  recalled 
them  with  a  strange  emotion.  He  was  too 
much  interested  to  be  wearied,  and  too  much 
convinced  to  dispute.  In  this  state  he  did  not 
know  what  to  say.  Conscious  of  being  con- 
vinced but  not  satisfied,  he  said  what  his  reason 
was  prone  to  fall  back  upon ;  though  he  might 
doubtless  have  said  something  that  would  have 
given  his  friend  less  pain. 

*  Hebrews  ix  :  14.  f  Isaiah  xxvi  .•  12. 


Atonement.  281 

"Human  nature,"  he  said,  "is  quite  likely 
much  the  same  through  all  its  contrasts.  I  hear 
some  urging  that  they  are  not  good  enough  to  bo 
Christians.  I  believe  that  after  all,  these  stand 
very  nearly  where  I  do.  To  me  there  is  some- 
thing unwelcome  in  the  idea  of  being  good  for 
nothing  ;  able  to  do  nothing  but  to  receive ;  ab- 
solutely fit  for  nothing  before  God  but  to  be 
forgiven." 

"  Nevertheless,"  said  Frederick  sadly,  as  the 
ladies  rose  to  go.  "  Nevertheless  we  preach 
Christ  crucified ;  to  the  self-righteous  a  stumb- 
ling-block, and  to  the  learned  foolishness.  Life 
freely  in  Jesus.  Life  only  in  Jesus.  Jesus 
crucified.  Jesus  risen.  Jesus  reigning.  Jesus 
the  beginning  and  the  end.  Happy  sire  they 
who  are  not  offended  in  Him." 

•         ••          •          ••          •• 

And  so  the  two  parted;  Frederick  with  hi3 
mother  accepting  an  invitation  from  Mrs.  Stan- 
ley to  drive  with  her  the  next  week. 

The  drive  home  was  full  of  conversation  in 


282  Ralph's  Possession. 

harmony  with  all  that  they  had  seen  and  heard. 
Robert  Jameson  had  come  in  from  school  to- 
ward the  last  of  their  stay ;  and,  being  quite 
jubilant  at  finding  Mrs.  Stanley  there,  had  de- 
voted himself  to  her ;  and  had  delighted  Mrs. 
Gushing  with  his  reminiscences  of  the  last  time 
he  had  seen  the  Stanleys  ;  and  edified  her  alike 
with  some  account  of  pretty  Kenyonville,  and 
with  his  unofficious  attentions  to  his  mother,  — 
half  boyish,  half  chivalrous,  as  they  were.  The 
ladies  had  had  a  good  deal  to  say  about  the  need 
>f  better  institutions  for  the  aid  and  education 
»f  the  poor,  both  North  and  South ;  Mrs. 
Stanley  being  chiefly  concerned  as  to  the 
nethod,  consistent  with  existing  evils,  of  bene- 
iting  the  black  race. 

"  If  we  read  prayers  with  our  servants  every 
morning,"  she  said,  "  and  give  them  a  Bible 
verse  or  two,  with  some  short  Bible  lessons  on 
Sunday,  we  must  not  think  it  can  be  in  vain, 
since  it  is  of  the  grace  and  truth  of  God.  But 
there  is  something  wrong,  wrong  in  the  way  their 


Atonement.  283 

minds  rre  kept  down  on  a  plane  where  there  is 
no  thought  possible.  I  felt  this  more  in  other 
days,  when  I  had  more  servants.  Teach  them 
to  read  !  to  think  !  Who  dares  to  do  it  under 
this  precious  rule?  I  am  not  an  abolitionist,  but 
I  am  an  elevationist.  May  the  Lord  save  these 
poor  people  !  " 

So  Mrs.  Stanley  had  been  feeling,  and  so  she 
had  been  praying  for  many  years.  Mrs.  Jameson 
sympathized  with  her,  but  did  not  altogether 
think  with  her.  "  Since  the  evil  exists  beyond 
our  remedying,"  she  said,  "let  us  do  the  best  we 
can  with  it.  And  let  us  at  least  admire  the  con- 
sistency of  a  State  that  refuses  to  enact  educated 
slavery.  If  the  colored  race  on  this  continent  is 
liberated  as  a  whole,  —  made  self-dependent  and 
entitled  to  citizenship, — they  will  be  educated. 
But  moral  intelligence,  certainly,  is  not  de- 
pendent upon  such  a  phase  of  thinking  intelli- 
gence as  is  wrought  out  in  what  we  term 
education.  Independently  of  this  —  at  least  in 
a  degree  —  the  moral  sense  is  developed  and 


284  RalJia  Possession. 


rectified  in  proportion  as  the  conscience  is  in- 
structed by  the  presentation  of  truth  in  language 
adapted  to  the  hearers." 

It  was  further  added  that  when  the  heart  is 
touched  with  God's  love,  the  moral  sense  is  al- 
ways quickened  and  ready  for  instruction.  The 
Stanleys'  Richard  and  the  Jamesons'  Jim  were 
cases  proving  this. 

So  these  two  ladies  agreed,  and  so  they  dif- 
fered. The  theme  arose  again  in  the  carriage, 
but  Ralph  heard  less  than  usual,  arid  asked  fewer 
questions.  Was  he  to  be  blamed  if  he  was  un- 
woutedly  silent?  For  eighteen  centuries  the 
minds  of  nations  of  men  had  been  agitated  about 
Jesus  the  Christ.  The  advance  of  nations  in  all 
the  useful  arts  and  amenities  of  life,  could  be 
clearly  traced  to  the  intellectual  and  moral  an- 
imus emana:ing  from  Him.  The  centre  about 
which  human  thought  had  been  moving,  or  the 
point  of  departure  whence  it  had  gone  exploring, 
was  this  Person  ;  this  Human  Life  other  than 
human  ;  this  stepping  into  earth  of  Him  who 


Atonement.  285 

was  before  Abraham.  He  had  been  the  Eleva- 
tor of  the  race,  —  the  Saviour  of  all  men.  They 
could  not  reject  the  temporal  benefit,  though 
they  might  seek  to  refute  it,  and  might  wholly 
miss  the  eternal. 

Such  thoughts  as  these  were  passing  in 
Ralph's  mind.  And  they  were  followed  by  the 
reflection  that  he  was  himself  thus  involved  in  a 
personal  indebtedness  to  Christ  that  he  could 
neither  deny  nor  cancel.  "Everything  I  have 
in  this  life,"  he  thought,  "  existence  itself,  with 
all  its  benefits,  I  receive  from  God.  And  I  am 
content  enough  that  it  be  so.  I  have  never 
thought  of  assurning  part  of  the  credit,  —  of 
having  merited  existence  or  anything  belonging 
to  it.  My  present  life  is  full  of  good  things  that 
flow  from  Christ  having  lived  on  the  earth  ;  and 
this  is  satisfactory  enough.  But  to  receive  all 
for  the  Now  and  the  Hereafter  as  the  fruit  of  a 
Ransom  paid,  —  as  a  gratuity  !  Why  is  it  that 
opposition  comes  in  here  ?  Life  out  of  His 
deaih,  at  once  and  for  nothing ;  why  do  I  hate 
this?  Or  do  I  not  hate  it?" 


286  Ralph's  Possession. 

Ralph's  mother  and  Mrs.  Stanley  of  course 
noticed  that  his  thoughts  were  busy,  for  it  was 
not  his  way  with  them  to  listen  and  say  nothing. 
lie  therefore  was  not  listening.  Mrs.  Stanley 
presently  asked  him  how  he  liked  Frederick 
Jameson. 

"  Like  him  ?  "  exclaimed  Ralph.  "  As  I  must 
like  any  admirable  young  man  who  can  be  pious 
without  moping,  and  talk  religion  without  drawl- 
ing ;  and  keep  one  talking  or  listening  for  five 
consecutive  hours  without  either  manifesting  or 
inducing  the  slightest  weariness." 

"  Five  hours !  Cousin  Ralph.  Our  whole  visit 
was  one  hour  and  a  half." 

"  Oh,  yes,  very  likely.  I  mean  that  he  might 
have  talked  on  for  five  hours  without  getting  to 
the  end.  I  like  him  all  over  and  altogether ; 
only  I  have  not  ma  le  up  my  mind  to  agree 
with  him.'* 

Ralph  had  assumed  his  reckless  manner,  which 
his  mother  well  knew  was  an  affectation  indi- 
cating that  he  would  rather  not  pursue  the 


Atonement.  287 

subject,  and  she  drew  Mrs.  Stanley's  attention 
another  way.  Presently  Ralph  asked  his  mother 
if  she  made  the  acquaintance  of  Miss  Alice. 

"  Yes,"  said  Mrs.  Gushing,  "  I  found  her  quite 
approachable  and  intelligent,  and,  as  Mary 
would  say,  or  should  say,  likeable.  But  she  was 
not  much  near  us.  Janie  and  Frank  absorbed 
her  mostly.  Mary,  be  it  noticed,  was  very 
agreeable  to  her." 

*'  Mary  is  a  real  comfort  to  me,"  said  Mrs. 
Stanley.  "  She  knows  how  to  receive  an  admo- 
nition. And  she  does  love  her  mother." 

And  Mrs.  Stanley's  eye  lighted  with  a  joy 
that  it  is  neither  in  wealth  nor  in  station  to  give, 
nor  in  any  success.  Nor  does  it  come  of  any 
possession  save  that  of  the  loving  subjection  of  a 
beloved  child. 

"  Yes,  she  is  a  dear  girl,  truly,"  said  Mrs. 
Gushing.  "  You  have  a  deal  of  comfort  in  all 
your  children." 

*'  Janie  is  remarkable,"  said  Ralph,  so  bluntly 
that  the  others  could  not  tell  what  he  meant 
But  Mrs.  Stanley  took  alarm. 


288  Ralph's  Possession. 

"  Oh!  Janie  has  many  faults,"  she  said,  "and 
is  not  precocious  in  gifts.  She  learned  to  read 
early,  and  is  beginning  to  think  early ;  but  she 
has  all  the  troubles  of  any  other  child,  and  is  as 
fond  of  a  romp  as  of  a  book." 

"As  for  Franky,"  said  Mrs.  Gushing,  "he  is 
ready  to  quarrel  with  Ralph  for  appi  opriating 
Mr.  Jameson  '  the  whole  time,  as  he  says." 

"  Oh,  I'll  risk  Frank  on  a  quarrel,"  said  Ralph, 
more  gayly  than  he  had  spoken  before  ;  adding, 
"  What  is  it  that  makes  that  family  so  charm- 
ing?" 

"It  is  love,"  said  Mrs.  Stanley,  "just  love; 
love  in  the  light.  Their  living  faith  strengthens 
the  natural  ties  a  thousand-fold.  It  is  not  often 
that  one  sees  an  entire  family  so  completely  of 
one  heart  and  one  mind  in  the  truth." 

•         •         •         •         •         ••        . 

Three  days  followed,  during  which  Sunday 
intervened,  and  on  the  other  days  rain  prevented 
the  usual  drive.  Ralph  was  not  sorry  for  this, 
except  on  his  mother's  account,  to  whom  the 


Atonement.  289 

drives  were  certainly  a  benefit.  For  himself  he 
was  glad  to  have  his  time  less  interrupted  just 
now.  Study  and  thought  were  pressing  him. 
Except  during  the  morning  hours,  which  were 
devoted  to  his  law-books,  he  was  roaming  over 
the  book-shelves  or  making  himself  useful  to  his 
mother  and  agreeable  to  everybody.  What  he 
liked  best  of  all,  except  doing  a  real  service  to 
some  one,  was  a  frolic  with  Janie ;  sometimes 
lively,  sometimes  of  a  very  intellectual  sort,  as 
when  he  reclined  on  the  lounge  and  she  would 
sit  near  tangling  his  hair  and  exchanging  her 
bright  thoughts  for  some  of  his,  or  asking  ques- 
tions that  he  could  sometimes  answer  and  some- 
times could  not.  On  the  Sunday  he  had  been 
much  arrested  by  a  sermon  from  Mrs.  Stanley's 
minister,  drawn  from  the  words  :  "  Though  we 
have  known  Christ  after  the  flesh,  yet  now 
henceforth  know  we  him  no  more.  Therefore, 
if  any  man  be  in  Christ  he  is  a  new  creature." 
He  saw  that,  at  best,  hia  knowledge  of  Christ 

hitherto  had  been  after  the  flesh.     Christ  admir- 
19 


290  Ralph's  Possession. 

able,  wonderful,  adorable,  but  still  Christ  as  He 
walked  the  earth  in  lowliness,  in  humiliation, 
under  a  veil  of  flesh  and  blood,  had  been  tho 
Christ  of  his  contemplation ;  not  Christ  risen, 
the  Man  triumphant,  the  Lord  of  glory,  in  the 
glory  also  that  He  had  with  the  Father  before 
the  world  was ;  the  Almighty,  the  Prince  and 
the  Saviour. 

Ralph's  thoughts  with  the  Bible  were  deeper 
and  more  tender  after  this.  Nothing  concerning 
Christ  could  be  lightly  treated.  He  must  be  in 
Him  in  that  new  creation. 

With  the  exhortations  to  those  already  con- 
fessing Christ,  which  closed  the  sermon,  he  felt 
that  he  had  at  present  less  to  do. 

"Dear  brethren,"  said  the  preacher,  "if  we 
live  in  the  Spirit,  let  us  also  walk  in  the  Spirit. 
Beware  that  you  do  not  dream  of  being  in  Christ 
while  you  are  covetous,  or  provoking  and  envy- 
ing one  another,  or  absorbed  in  fashion,  setting 
your  hearts  more  on  the  newspaper  and  the 
world's  progress  than  on  the  word  of  Christ  and 


Atonement.  291 

the  progress  of  His  truth.  These  things  are  of 
the  old  creature  ;  not  of  the  Father  but  of  the 
world.  Oh,  my  brothers!  if  the  word  of  Christ 
is  not  dwelling  in  you  richly,  how  is  it  that  you 
are  new  creatures  in  Him?" 

It  was  towards  evening  of  the  next  day  that 
Ralph,  after  a  letter  to  his  father  (glowing  with 
details  of  their  daily  existence,  of  the  dear 
mother's  health,  and  of  the  good,  stupid  law- 
studies,)  had  brought  a  book  from  the  library 
to  the  parlor  where  his  mother  and  her  cousin 
were  sitting ;  the  library  being  given  up  to  the 
children,  who  were  making  themselves  wild  over 
their  sister  Grade's  accounts  of  the  Yosemite 
Valley.  The  book  had  caught  his  eye  in  the 
morning  as  he  was  searching  for  some  old  law- 
book  of  Mr.  Stanley's.  It  was  a  volume  of  dis- 
courses in  the  French,  entitled  The  Redeemer* 
He  sat  for  some  time  reading,  for  the  language 
was  attractive,  the  thoughts  singularly  strong 

*  Le  ^Redemption  :  per  Edraond  de  Pressense. 


292  Ralph's  Possession. 

and  devotional,  the  theme  in  harmony  with 
Ralph's  mood.  The  pages  with  the  reading  of 
which  he  closed  the  book  contained  the  following 
words :  — 

"  Fasten  your  eyes  upon  that  cross,  my  broth- 
ers, and  turn  then  from  it  no  more.  That  it  is 
that  consummates  your  redemption.  All  the 
sufferings  that  constitute  condemnation  are  gath- 
ered up  in  that  immolation.  Enclosed  and  ac- 
cepted in  an  act  of  complete  obedience,  accepted 
by  the  Just  and  the  Holy,  and  consequently 
turned  into  saving  expiation.  .  .  .  Shall  I  speak 
of  the  agonies  of  the  soul,  of  that  cry,  4  My  God  ! 
My  God  !  why  hast  Thou  forsaken  me  ? '  What 
mysterious  link  between  condemned  humanity 
and  the  only  Son  of  the  Father  does  that  aston- 
ishing word  reveal,  which  no  human  explanation 
would  know  how  to  interpret !  Shall  I  speak 
of  the  sorrow  which  sums  up  and  confounds  all 
others, —  of  that  which  is  the  essential  wages 
of  sin,  namely,  of  death?  What  prodigy  may 
equal  this,  that  the  Prince  of  life  has  died  ?  ,  .  , 


Atonement.  293 

That  wages  of  sin  He  has  received,  He,  the  sin- 
less. ...  If  it  be  true  that  all  the  griefs  of  hu- 
man life  have  fallen  upon  that  sinless  head ;  if 
He  for  it  has  made  one  alone  sacrifice,  and  if  He 
has  offered  it  to  His  Father  in  his  libert}^  and  in 
His  holiness ;  then  recognize  with  Him  that  there 
is  nothing  more  to  do  for  salvation  ;  for  there  is 
nothing  more  to  suffer,  nothing  more  to  accept; 
and  say  with  Him,  It  is  finished." 

While  Ralph  had  been  reading,  Mrs.  Stanley 
had  left  the  room,  and,  as  he  closed  the  book,  he 
found  himself  alone  with  his  mother.  He  told 
her,  more  freely  than  he  had  yet  found  oppor 
tunity  to  do,  of  his  conversation  with  Frederick 
Jameson,  and  of  the  still  further  thought  awak- 
ened by  the  sermon  he  had  since  heard. 

"If  it  be  true,"  he  said,  "that  Christ  has 
become  a  High  Priest  of  good  things  to  come, 
and  has  by  His  own  blood  entered  in  once  into 
the  holy  place,  having  obtained  eternal  redemp- 
tion for  us  ;  if  all  this  be  so,  it  is  a  solemn  pity 
indeed  to  be  finding  any  fault  with  it,  But 


294  Ralph's  Possession. 

pride  (if  it  be  pride),  is  in  the  way,  — fearfully 
in  the  way  with  me.  I  am  not  accepting  the 
idea  of  self  being  nothing,  and  good  for  nothing, 
—  just  worth  nothing  at  all." 

44  We  are  nothing,  and  good  for  nothing,  sure- 
ly," said  his  mother,  "  as  to  any  strength  or 
excellence.  But  we  are  not  worth  nothing.  We 
are  worth  so  much  to  God  that  He  has  made  a 
way  to  save  us,  —  a  way  to  bring  us  into  His 
presence  with  exceeding  joy." 

44  You  take  up  my  words  in  metaphysical 
earnest,"  said  Ralph.  "I  dare  say  you  are  quite 
right,  that  in  the  spiritual  sense  there  is  a  dif- 
ference between  good  for  nothing  and  worth 
nothing." 

"  It  is  not  strange,  my  dear  son,"  continued 
Mrs.  Gushing,  "if  no  flesh  may  glory  before 
God.  Since  He  has  chosen  to  provide  for  the 
unrighteous  a  righteousness  that  can  stand  in 
His  sight,  and  a  redemption  that  can  put  away 
sin,  and  in  the  end  deliver  from  it ;  and  since  in 
BO  doing  He  has  made  a  way  to  win  our  love,  let 


Atonement.  29o 

us  not  think  that  we  are  worth  nothing  to  Him  ; 
let  us  acknowledge,  as  is  fit,  that  the  worth  is 
not  merit;  that  as  to  goodness  we  are  indeed 
nothing ;  and,  indeed,  accord  all  to  Christ,  since 
we  have  all  in  Him.  It  is  God's  infinite  power 
and  equal  grace  that  place  the  Christian  so  com- 
pletely in  Christ  that  he  stands  no  more  before 
God  forever.  Christ  is  become  the  wisdom,  the 
righteousness,  the  sanctification,  as  He  is  the 
redemption.  Now  if  we  glory,  we  glory  in  Him, 
the  Lord,  the  Saviour.  It  is  enough,  surely, 
that  He  be  honored  in  what  He  has  wrought. 
Oh,  Ralph,  dear  Ralph !  the  will,  the  pride ; 
when  will  they  be  broken  in  you  ?  Ralph  Gush- 
ing will  not  be  nothing  —  no,  not  even  that 
Christ  may  be  all !  But  of  course  Ralph  Gush- 
ing is  quite  impotent  to  change  the  blessed, 
eternal  fact,  that  Christ  is  all." 

Ralph  remembered  Rebekah's  words :  "  Sub- 
mission is  happiness  when  it  is  a  right  submis- 
sion." He  was  silent  a  moment,  and  then  only 
said,  "  The  right  of  Nicodemus  1  How  can 
these  things  be?" 


296  Ralph's  Possession. 

And  as  Mrs.  Stanley  entered  just  here,  he  ad- 
dressed her  with  his  quick  politeness,  that  she 
might  not  feel  herself  intruding.  "  Mother  and 
I  are  on  the  theme  that  you  know  is  all-absorbing 
just  now,  and  with  which  I  know  you  are  in 
sympathy." 

44  Yes,  indeed  I  am,"  she  answered,  with 
sweet,  hearty  emphasis. 

"  But  mother  has  talked  as  long  as  is  good  for 
her,"  he  continued,  "and  I  am  going  (you  will 
excuse  me)  to  put  away  my  book,  but  not  your 
kindness  nor  my  thoughts." 

And  as  he  entered  the  library  he  found  Janie 
alone  ;  even  Rex  gone.  Richard  had  opened  the 
door,  Janie  said,  with  the  intelligence  that  Susan 
was  in  a  heap  of  trouble  about  something  ;  and 
would  Miss  Grace  please,  go  see  ?  "  Mary  had 
gone  with  Grace,  and  Frank  had  gone  off  some- 
where with  Rex.  So  only  Janie  was  left,  too 
intent  upon  some  sampler-work  to  be  disturbed 
by  the  desertion. 

44  Ah,   well   Janie  I   this  is  just  right,"   said 


Atonement.  297 

Ralph  as  lie  put  up  his  book.  "  My  head  needs 
Btroking  sadly.  So  I  will  go  down  on  the  lounge 
and  your  sampler  shall  go  into  the  basket,  and 
you  will  sit  by  me." 

"  Yes  indeed,  Cousin  Ralph  "  said  Janie,  ever 
ready  to  do  what  was  asked. 

She  drew  up  her  chair,  and  her  tiny  fingers 
parted  his  locks  and  wandered  over  his  temples 
with  a  marvellous  effect  on  the  ache  that  was 
there,  and  the  weariness.  Almost  always  at 
such  times  she  chatted  loquaciously,  or  asked 
questions  and  waited  for  answers.  But  now  she 
was  intuitively  aware  of  his  mood ;  aud,  in  more 
sympathy  than  understanding,  kept  silent. 

"  Well  Janie  ?  "  said  Ralph,  after  the  rest  had 
passed  from  her  finger-tips  softly,  sweetly, 
deeply,  through  and  through  the  brain  that  had 
been  so  sore  a  few  minutes  ago.  And,  as  she 
did  not  respond,  he  opened  his  eyes  toward  hers 
and  repeated,  "  Well  Janie  ?  " 

"  Cousin  Ralph,"  said  the  child,  «*  the  Lord 
Jesus  is  the  good  Shepherd,  and  His  sheep  heat 


298  Ralph's   Possession. 

His  voice.  Perhaps  you  are  not  one  of  Hia 
sheep." 

Ralph  was  taken  by  surprise.  Was  he  awake 
or  dreaming  ?  How  could  this  child  know  what 
he  was  thinking  of  ? 

He  only  weighed  her  words,  and  said  again, 
"Well  Janie?" 

The  poor  little  voice  faltered  as  she  proceeded, 
"  But  I  wish  you  were.  I  wish  you  would  be, 
now"  The  little  head  was  bowed  only  a  mj- 
ment.  Then  she  lifted  it  up. 

"  Well  Janie,  I  am  listening."  Ralph  forced 
himself  to  speak  firmly. 

The  child  gathered  up  her  voice  again,  and 
spoke  strongly  now.  "  Well,  then,  He  laid 
down  His  life  for  the  sheep.  And  they  follow 
Him." 

She  paused  again;  and  the  pause  grew  so 
long,  so  very  silent,  that  Ralph  again  spoke. 

"  Janie,  what  would  you.  do  if  you  were 
me?" 

"  Cousin  Ralph,"  she  said,  "  I  think  I  would 


Atonement.  £OU 

take  the  cup  that  Jesus  filled  with  His  salvation. 
There  it  is,  full,  and   held   out   for   you ;  and 
so  good!     Why  don't  you  drink  it?  " 

•          •          •          ••••• 

Oh,  Ralph !  Ralph  Gushing !  It  is  well  for 
you  that  you  could  lie  there  no  longer. 

•  •••*••• 

He  rose  up,  but  he  did  not  at  once  stanil  up- 
right. He  sat  a  moment  with  his  brow  on  his 
hand,  as  one  not  knowing  what  had  happened  to 
him.  It  was  as  if  transformation  had  passed 
upon  all  things.  Yet  he  was  a  real  man,  in  a 
real  world.  And  the  child  was  there  by  him ; 
a  real  child,  not  an  angel.  He  knew  this.  And 
then  he  knew  he  must  cry  out  something  lhat 
even  she  might  not  hear.  He  must  be  alone 
with  the  Unseen.  He  must  go.  But  he  would 
not  go  in  silence.  He  would  not  leave  the 
ministering  child  joyless.  He  stood  upright 
now.  He  bent  down  over  her. 

"  Janie !     Why  Janie  !  " 

And  his  tone  was  so  changed  that  she  knew 


800  Ralph's  Possession. 

what  he  meant.  And  then  he  went  out :  and 
Janie  settled  back  to  her  needle-work,  happy  be- 
cause knowing  that  Ralph  was  happier,  but  not 
at  all  understanding  what  a  stupendous  work 
God  had  wrought  by  her  means. 

And  where  could  Ralph  go  but  to  his  own 
room  ?  For  he  had  a  friend  now  whom  he 
wished  to  meet  there.  We  have  no  business 
with  what  he  said  to  that  Friend,  nor  with  what 
that  Friend  said  to  him.  The  only  words  uttered 
that  we  are  permitted  to  record  were  such  as 
have  been  uttered  by  many  a  soul  before,  and  by- 
many  a  one  since. 

"  O  Jesus,  Saviour !  my  Lord,  my  God  !  How 
art  Thou  become  precious  1  " 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

HOME    CORRESPONDENCE. 

T  was  about  this  time  that  Ralph  wrote 
Rebekah  as  follows  :  — 

"STANLEY  MANSION, 

November  10th,  18—. 
"DEAREST  SISTER:  — 

With  whom  do  I  compare  you  ?  Since 
*  dearest '  denotes  comparison  in  a  degree  super- 
lative, you  cannot  be  the  dearest  by  virtue  of 
being  the  only  sister  I  possess.  In  this  style  of 
address  I  claim  that  you  are  the  dearest  sister 
alive.  This  is  not  claiming  to  be  acquainted 


302  Ralph's  Possession. 

with  everybody's  sister.  It  is  only  the  assuming 
that  you  have  as  strong  a  place  in  fraternal  af- 
fection as  it  is  possible  for  a  sister  to  have ;  and 
therefore,  doubtless,  you  stand  with  few  fears  in 
that  regard,  if  you  be  not  queen  of  all. 

"  So  many  things  to  write  you  to-day !  al- 
though I  wrote  only  four  days  ago,  and  mamma 
has  written  in  the  meantime.  I  do  not  know 
how  to  classify  the  news  and  the  chat  I  have  to 
give.  It  is  not  at  all  certain  that  I  shall  begin 
with  the  least,  but  I  shall  end  with  the  greatest. 
So  proceed  patiently  with  one. 

"  And  first,  not  least.  Mamma  is  improving  so 
much,  the  climate  is  evidently  so  well  suited  to 
her,  and  the  autumn  is  proving  so  unusually 
mild,  that  we  are  content  to  prolong  our  stay 
here  bej'ond  our  first  intent.  This,  of  course,  is 
at  Mrs.  Stanley's  invitation  and,  indeed,  ur- 
gency. She  declares  that  nothing  has  enriched 
her  life  so  much,  for  years,  as  our  coming  and 
our  remaining ;  and,  so  far  as  mother  is  con- 
cerned, this  may  well  be  true.  If  the  winter 


Home  Correspondence.  303 

continues  quite  moderate  we  may  remain  even 
into  the  new  year.  In  that  case  we  should 
abandon  the  project  of  proceeding  southward  in 
our  own  carriage ;  but,  pushing  westward  to 
Memphis,  take  steamboat  passage  South,  car- 
riage and  all ;  unless,  indeed,  we  send  Zed  and 
the  equipage  back  to  you.  Louisiana  seems 
very  far  away,  and  the  going  there  more  like  a 
desertion  of  home  —  or  of  the  loved  ones  that 
make  home  —  than  the  remaining  here.  For 
Tennessee,  on  the  map,  looks  much  nearer,  and, 
practically,  might  prove  so  if  all  were  not  well 
with  you  at  any  time.  Nothing  but  the  duty  of 
carrying  out,  if  possible,  what  we  have  under- 
taken could  induce  either  of  us  to  increase  the 
distance  of  separation,  or  even  to  prolong  the 
stay  into  all  the  allotted  months.  How  long 
they  must  seem  to  you  !  But  you  have  your 
own  sweet  perversity  about  not  coming  to  take 
my  place.  And  indeed,  on  father's  account, 
you  are  quite  right;  since  I  could  not  fill  for 
him  the  place  that  you  are  filling.  You  make 


304  Ralph's  Possession. 

his  house  cheerful,  and  keep  the  servants  in 
order;  and  your  presence  is  doubtless  all  that 
enables  him  to  bear  so  kindly  mamma's  absence. 
And  then  your  little  *  sewing  circles '  of  rich 
children  for  the  poor,  and  of  poor  children  for 
missionaries.  What  an  original  invention ! 
I  surely  could  not  carry  those  on  for  you.  We 
were  much  interested  in  your  account  of  them. 
"  It  is  some  time  since  I  have  written  you 
specially  about  the  law  studies.  They  progress 
doggedly.  Indeed,  no — I  will  take  that  back,  — 
they  progress  quite  cheerily  on  the  whole ;  with 
more  interest  than  I  had  supposed  could  accrue 
in  my  own  case.  Since  we  now  anticipate  re- 
maining here  so  long,  I  have  entered  my  name  as 
law  student  in  the  office  of  Judge  Hazelton, 
Mariondale.  This  will  give  me  free  access  to 
his  fine  library,  and  seems  more  like  work  in 
earnest  than  the  method  pursued  thus  far.  This, 
also,  will  bring  me  in  contact  with  '  cases '  in 
counsel;  and  if  we  are  here  until  the  second 
week  in  January,  when  court  sits,  I  shall  see 


Home   Correspondence.  305 

how  they  do  it.     "  Still,  still  as  of  old,  —  1  don't 
like   it.     Can   I   ever  like   it  ? 

"  Cousin  Gracie,  as  she  is  pleased  to  be  called, 
has  returned  from  her  prolonged  visit  in  Cali- 
fornia ;  accompanied  by  Miss  Penelope  Clayton. 
(  You  have  heard  of  our  neighbors  the  Claytons. 
*  Neighborhoods '  here  have  an  extent  elsewhere 
unknown.)  The  fair  cousin  is  of  the  invalid  or- 
der in  theory  only  ;  having  a  robustness  that  it 
must  require  courage  on  the  part  of  a  physician 
to  pronounce  against.  After  almost  a  year  iu 
that  Golden  State,  whose  capital  is  practically 
farther  from  Washington  than  Montreal  is  from 
London,  she  returns  with  quite  a  provincial  air, 
which  young  people  are  prone  to  acquire  or  to 
affect.  But  the  young  lady  is  a  Stanley  every 
way.  Miss  Clayton  turned  aside  to  dine  with  us 
before  going  on  to  her  brother's;  the  vehicle 
passing  this  way.  I  should  pronounce  her  one 
of  those  sincere  well-bred  individuals  whose 
genuine  worth  is  manifest  to  all  but  themselves 

and  the  sorry  few  who  lack  all  discernment. 
20 


306  Ralph's  Possession. 

"  I  believe  you  have  not  yet  been  told  of  our 
introduction  to  the  Jamesons.  We  took  a 
pleasant  afternoon  for  a  drive  that  way,  and 
found  them  not  only  '  delightful '  (  which  word, 
like  other  rapturous  adjectives,  is  getting  quito 
too  common )  but  a  remarkable  family  I  judge 
them  to  be.  Frederick,  the  young  man  of 
whom  I  once  wrote,  who  works  lustily  all  the 
week,  and  is  said  to  preach  lustily  on  Sundays, 
is  certainly  no  ordinary  youth  ;  albeit,  his  gifts 
are  doubtless  from  God  who  called  him.  The 
respect  .and  attraction  that  I  felt  for  this  new 
acquaintance,  whose  amiability  is  equal  to  his 
strength,  have  grown  or  passed  into  genuine 
affection,  —  nay  love — (for  why  not  use  tho 
simpler,  greater  word?)  since  I  realize  how 
dear  he  must  be  to  the  Saviour  who  is  now, 
only  now,  dear  to  His  poor  servant,  Ralph 
Gushing. 

"  For.  my  own  only  sister,  I  felt  that  I  must 
keep  the  greatest  news  for  these  last  pages,  since 
with  no  other  theme  could  I  finish  a  letter  to 


Home  Correspondence.  307 

you  just  now.  The  light  broke  in,  the  heart 
melted,  the  will  ceased  from  itself,  under  some 
words  from  that  sweet  child,  Janie,  whom  the 
Lord  has  assuredly  called.  Oh,  Rebekah  ! 
what  a  fool  I  have  been,  what  a  proud  creature  ! 
I  can  fling  no  worse  reproach  over  my  past  self 
than  these  words, —  a  proud  creature.  Nothing 
could  be  worse.  Pride  in  the  human  heart 
before  God !  Objections  before  God !  Strict- 
ness upon  the  wisdom,  the  perfect  way,  of  God ! 
narrowing  down  the  broad  commandment,  as- 
suming a  dictatorship  as  to  Divine  ways  and 
means  I  Not  touching  the  hem  of  Christ's  gar- 
ment, out  of  a  humiliation  and  a  need  that  must 
draw  from  the  Lord  of  all ;  but,  with  the  foot 
of  pride,  stepping  upon  it  I  Rebekah,  I  remem- 
ber your  words ;  mother's  words ;  Mr.  Clear- 
water's  manly,  earnest  preaching,  and  his 
personal  entreaty  so  delicate  always,  and  yet 
plain.  I  have  had  many  good  words  also  from 
Mrs.  Stanley,  and  from  others.  And  how  is  it 
that  through  all  I  have  been  deaf,  blind,  dead? 


308  Ralph's  Possession. 

But,  though  thus  it  has  been,  this  is  not  all.  1 
would  not  see  the  Saviour,  the  Saviour,  the  Lord. 
Jesus  was  too  exalted.  Salvation  was  too  free. 
Redemption  by  blood  was  not  acceptable.  The 
cup  was  there,  filled  with  life,  eternal  life,  held 
out  to  me  by  the  Lord  of  Life ;  His  own  pur- 
chase, His  own  gift.  And  when  that  child  spoke 
eoftly  about  this,  and  said,  '  Why  don't  you 
drink  it  ? '  then,  just  then,  God  was  pleased 
to  show  me  what  love  I  was  rejecting,  what  re- 
bellion I  was  hugging  ;  what  a  fool, — oh !  what  a 
fool  I  had  been  !  And  what  a  great  Saviour,  — 
present,  living,  all-sufficient,  —  the  poor  fool  had 
now  found. 

"  Shall  I  say  any  more  ?  Is  it  possible  to  say 
more  ?  I  do  not  need  to  tell  you  that  the  truth 
of  God  is  no  longer  a  problem ;  nor  that  the 
worship  of  Jesus  is  the  life  of  the  soul.  I  do 
not  need  to  tell  you  that  the  poor  fool's  folly  is 
forgiven  ;  that  the  sinner's  sins  are  washed  away. 
You  are  rejoicing  with  me ,  for  now  at  last  #Q 
are  worshipping  one  Redeemer.'' 


Home   Correspondence.  309 

This  letter  accompanied  one  from  Mrs.  Gush- 
ing to  her  husband  from  which  the  following 
brief  extract  is  given  :  — 

"  Doubtless  Ralph  has  written  Rebekah  of 
the  change  in  his  views  and  attitude  regarding 
the  Saviour.  It  is,  you  must  know,  a  great  joy 
to  me  that  Ralph's  confession  of  Christ  is  at  last 
clear  and  decided,  and  that  the  manly,  restless 
heart  has  rest.  In  this  my  joy  you  cannot,  I  am 
sure,  withold  a  certain  sympathy.  Give  me  all 
you  can. 

"  Ralph  is  quite  earnest  in  his  studies,  for  your 
sake.  A  good  son  we  may  both  count  him."  .  . 
•  ••••••• 

To  these  letters  Rebekah  replied  as  follows :  — 

"  HOME,  November  14th,  18  — . 
"DEAR  MAMMA  AND  RALPH:  — 

The  news  of  all  the  year  comes  in  your 
letters  of  the  tenth  received  to-day.  I  had  to 
run  away  and  weep  for  joy.  Oh,  Ralph  !  dear 
old  brother,  I  knew  it  would  be  so.  You  know 


310  Ralph's  Possession. 

I  said  there  would  be  a  good  end,  —  not  because 
I  believed  in  you,  but  because  I  was  persuaded 
that  God  was  breaking  you  to  pieces.  He  was 
only  letting  your  pride  raise  you  very  high,  that 
you  might  fall  on  that  stone  on  which  it  is  good 
to  be  broken.  There  is  no  need  to  gather  up  the 
fragments  of  the  broken  heart,  since  a  new  heart 
is  given.  You  are  still  Ralph,  my  very  brother 
Ralph,  though  in  Christ  a  new  creature.  How 
are  old  things  passed  away  now  ? 

"  But  I  am  writing  to  you  both,  — to  mamma 
and  Ralph  I  I  cannot  keep  the  tears  from  falling 
on  the  paper  while  I  write ;  tears  of  joy,  and  of 
longing  to  see  you.  I  am  happy  and  well-occu- 
pied all  day  long;  and  quite  content  I  assure 
you,  more  than  content,  to  have  things  just  as 
they  are,  especially  since  I  realize  more  by  each 
new  letter  received  how  good  a  thing  it  is  that 
we  sent  you  away,  mamma.  And  God  has  made 
it  work  good  for  Ralph,  too.  No  doubt  He  will 
overrule  for  us  all  that  we  commit  to  Him.  1 
say  this  for  Ralph's  strengthening,  or  comfort 


Home   Correspondence.  311 

or  whatever  of  such  words  he  prefers.  The 
law-office  entry  was  a  good  movement,  papa 
thinks.  You  both  do  me  good  by  your  faithful 
letters,  in  which  you  make  me  share  so  well  the 
daily  life  you  lead. 

"  And  this  brings  me  to  relate  to  you  a  few 
incidents  that  have  transpired  recently  with  us. 

"I wrote  you  that  Rose  Bailey  was  quite  sick; 
and  now  she  has  passed  away  —  the  sweet,  fair 
Rose ;  the  loving  Rose.  I  had  already  been 
twice  to  see  her,  when,  three  evenings  ago,  a 
messenger  came  saying  that  she  was  suddenly 
failing,  and  '  begged  to  see  Miss  Gushing  once 
more.'  Papa  said  he  would  drive  me  himself, 
which  was  a  great  treat  to  me,  —  the  more  so 
that  on  an  errand  so  sad  I  would  need  some 
one  to  speak  to. 

"  Rose  had  been  everything  to  her  mother  and 
sister,  who  are  really  broken  by  this  loss.  As 
for  Rose  herself,  happy  Rose  (a  *  rose-bud '  I  had 
always  called  her ;  a  rose  full-blown  now),  she 
seemed  to  have  passed  through  more  than  a  life- 


312  Ralph's  Possession. 

time  since  I  last  saw  her  in  health,  only  thert 
was  nothing  like  age.  It  was  a  ripeness  without 
decay,  —  a  weary  evening,  glowing  and  fragrant, 
and  fading  into  a  sweet  sleep  that  awaits  a  sure 
waking  again. 

"  '  It  is  sw«et,'  she  said,  '  to  think  of  being 
so  soon  with  Jesus  in  Paradise,  —  perhaps  even 
to-day.' 

"  And  after  we  had  talked  a  few  minutes,  — 
she  speaking  very  slowly  and  softly  for  weakness, 
—  she  told  me  that  there  was  one  trouble, — a 
temptation,  a  something,  in  her  experience,  which 
did  not  disturb  her  peace ;  but  still,  to  have  it 
gone  would  be  a  great  joy.  She  was  assured 
of  forgiveness,  of  acceptance  in  Jesus  the  Christ, 
the  Beloved.  He  was  dear  to  her  as  her  Sa- 
viour, her  Lord,  worshipped  and  rested  in.  But 
could  she  know  that  His  love  was  consciously, 
individually,  taking  note  of  each,  even  the  least, 
and  therefore  of  her  ? 

"  I  was  very  glad  that  Mr.  Clearwater  came  in 
just  here.  In  answer  to  her  question  he  said 


Home   Correspondence.  813 

decidedly  Yes  ;  but  it  is  a  matter  for  conscious- 
ness, not  for  logic.  *Let  us  pray,'  he  said. 
And  after  prayer,  —  a  prayer  of  thanksgiving 
and  praise,  —  a  few  words  from  Scripture  were 
repeated,  such  as  '  We  love  Him  because  He  first 
loved  us,'  and  '  He  calleth  His  own  sheep  by 
name.' 

"  '  Yes,  there  it  is,'  said  Rose,  with  the  great 
joy  in  her  eye.  'He  does  reveal  Himself  by 
His  word.  He  does  especially  love  each  one  of 
us.  How  gracious  all  this  is !  ' 

"  She  passed  away  the  next  evening.  It  was 
a  sinking,  sinking,  as  if  to  sleep.  Not  in 
apathy  (as  when  '  there  are  no  bands  in  their 
death'),  but  in  peace,  because  the  Lord  was 
there.  '  It  is  so  sweet,'  she  said,  *  to  know  that 
the  Lord  went  down  among  these  shadows,  and 
in  His  rising  again  gave  us  the  assurance  that  it 
is  all  safe  for  His  own  beyond.' 

"  The  meaning  of  the  words  *  Christ  in  you 
the  hope  of  glory,'  (exemplified  in  her  sweet  life 
for  years),  was,  in  her  dying,  marvellously  man- 


814  Ralph's  Possession. 

ifest.  Her  words  to  her  mother,  that  fell  most 
sweetly  into  her  old  heart  were,  *  Mother,  doesn't 
Jesus  comfort  you  ?  He  will  comfort  you.' 

"  In  all  the  house  there  was  peace.    . 

"I  must  reserve  incidents  touching  life  at 
home  for  another  letter." 

•  ••••• 

A  few  days  later  Rebekah  wrote  as  follows : 
..."  The  best  news  touching  the  home  estate 
is  that  Ethelred's  patience  is  rewarded,  and  his 
particular  sorrow  is  at  an  end.  Faith  came  to 
see  me  the  other  day,  and  told  me  that  her 
father  had  been  so  much  in  admiration  of 
Ethel's  conduct,  that  he  was  *  'shamed,'  (he 
said),  '  of  his  own  hardness  in  the  matter.' 
'  Father  overblames  himself,'  she  continued,  '  for 
thee  knows  it  was  for  conscience  sake  he  took 
the  stand  he  did.  But  he  now  says  Ethel  ia 
proved  a  noble  fellow,  controlled  by  the  princi- 
ples of  the  true  Gospel.  And  that  if  he  does 
not  feel  that  he  can  enter  the  Society,  that  must 
not  signify  ;  for,  to  deny  his  suit,  would  be  to 
darken  two  lives  without  cause.' 


Home   Correspondence.  315 

"  And  so  they  are  to  be  married  next  month. 
Ethelred  is  already  opening  and  airing  the  cot- 
tage, and  putting  in  one  thing  after  another. 
This  morning,  being  the  day  for  bringing  flowers 
to  the  house,  I  told  Joan  to  keep  him  and  call 
me.  I  was  with  papa  in  the  library  ;  and,  at  his 
permission  Joan  got  orders  to  send  Ethel  in.  He 
came  through  the  hall  whistling  under  breath. 
(Good  Ethel,  for  a  strange  thing,  forgot  his  good 
manners  BO  far  as  that.)  He  is  growing  con- 
templative, and,  I  dare  say,  whistles  unconscious- 
ly. He  brought  the  flowers,  and  recollected 
himself  with  many  humble  apologies  for  his 
carelessness  in  the  hall.  I  told  him  that  I  al- 
most envied  him  his  calling;  at  which  he  made 
some  candid  reply,  after  the  fashion  of  his  own 
simplicity  ;  declaring  that  it  must  be  an  ancient 
calling,  since  "those  that  dwelt  among  plants 
and  hedges  "  are  mentioned  in  the  patriarchal 
section  of  the  Chronicles.  Ethel's  memory  is 
stored  with  Scripture,  you  know,  which  always 
serves  him  well.  I  said  to  him  that  papa  and  I 


31t>  Ralph's  Possession. 

must  wish  him  joy  of  the  good  end  of  his  waiting 
—  not  so  very  long  after  all.  And  papa,  being 
somewhat  complacent  toward  the  affair,  inter- 
posed some  odd  remark  to  the  effect  that  Ethel's 
Faith  and  Hope  had  not  disappointed  him.  But 
Ethel,  standing  decorously  with  hat  in  hand, 
sobered  a  little  at  this,  and  begged  Mr.  Cushing's 
pardon  if  he  might  take  the  remark  in  the 
highest  sense  and  protest  that  a  Christian's  faith 
and  hope  cannot  disappoint ;  being  the  gift  of 
God.  '  And  so  is  a  faithful  wife,'  said  papa. 
Ethel  did  look  satisfied  ;  and  when  I  made  an 
errand  with  him  to  the  hall  window  to  show 
nim  how  the  fuchias  and  begonias  were  thriv- 
ing, he  said  to  me,  '  Doctor  Laidley,  ma'am, 
says  that  faith  toward  God  is  not  gained,  it  is 
sovereignly  given'  '  Yes  Ethel,'  I  said,  '  but 
Doctor  Laidley  would  say  also  that  when  men 
seek  God,  He  is  found  of  them.  Both  statements 
are  true,  I  think.  The  prayer  "  What  must  I  do 
to  be  saved  ? ''  is  being  answered  every  da}-.' 
"Ethel  looked  as  if  he  would  speak  if  he 


Home  Correspondence.  317 

dared,  and  I  encouraged  him  to  go  on.  4  It 
remains  ma'am,'  he  said,  *  that  there  is  one  God 
the  Father,  of  whom  are  all  things  .  .  and  one 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  by  whom  are  all  things,  and 
we  by  Him.  Doctor  Laidley  would  say,  ma'am 
that  God  moves  us  to  seek  Him.  Since  He  is 
all  and  over  all,  absolute,  eternal,  and  infinite, 
His  grace  is  so  also.'  '  Ah  well,  Ethel '  I  said, 
'  God  gives  us  the  breath  we  draw  ;  but  we  draw 
it.'  '  Yes  ma'am,'  he  answered,  '  the  breath  and 
the  drawing  of  breath  ;  we  cannot  separate  the 
thing  from  the  act.  All  is  of  God.' 

"  You  see,  mamma,  Ethel  is  a  monarchist  in 
every  sense ;  more  monarchical  than  analytical. 
I  concluded  the  discussion  (shall  I  call  it  so  ?) 
by  agreeing  with  him  that  we  can  do  nothing 
without  God  —  in  a  sense  that  divests  us  of  all 
sovereignty,  but  not  of  responsibility.  To  whom 
could  we  be  absolutely  responsible  but  to  an  ab- 
solute Sovereign  who  works  all  things  after  tue 
counsel  of  His  own  will?  Everything,  to  us, 
hinges  upon  doing  what  is  bidden.  The  blind 


318  Ralph's  Possession. 

man  cannot  make  his  eyes  see,  but  he  can  go  to 
the  pool  and  wash.  Use  God's  means  for  finding 
God,  and  God  will  be  found.  The  great  means 
to  this  is  the  searching  of  His  own  word.  '  Ah  ! 
yes  ma'am,'  he  said,  '  the  entrance  of  His  word 
giveth  light.  There  are  many  sweet  thoughts 
about  our  Father's  Sovereignty.  Doctor  Laidley 
says  we  are  to  look  at  it  filially.  The  good  man 
gives  us  a  wonderful  deal  to  think  of,  ma'am. 
So  much  of  the  love  of  God  to  sinners ;  so 
much  of  His  ways  in  Christ ;  so  much  of  Christ ! 
I  said  to  him  one  day,  ma'am,  "  Pastor  Laidley, 
how  is  it  that  you  can  say  so  much  that  does  us 
good  ;  and  alwa\Ts  so  easy  ;  as  if  there  was  only 
to  open  the  mouth,  and  the  word  o'  wisdom 
flows  out  ? "'  "  Ah  !  Ethel,"  says  he,  "  don't  ye 
know  it  is  naething  to  pump  if  ye  hae  a  head  o' 
water  on?  "  And  then  he  sighed,  like,  (he  has 
a  sweet  way  to  sigh  betimes,)  and  said,  "  But 
Ethel,  my  boy,  we  hae  this  treasure  in  earthen 
vessels,  that  the  excellency  o'  the  power  may  be 
of  God,  and  not  of  us."  ' 


Home   Correspondence.  319 

"By-the-by,  mamma,  I  had  a  call  from  Doctor 
Laidley  the  other  day.  He  came  in,  sweet,  and 
strong,  and  hearty  as  ever ;  with  grace  al- 
ways flowing  out  of  his  lips,  as  Ethel  says.  He 
was  glad  to  hear  of  your  improvement,  and 
sent  some  stately  compliments  to  you.  He  also 
gave  me  the  very  best  and  most  helpful  sym- 
pathy touching  your  absence,  that  I  have  had 
from  any  source.  He  talked  a  long  time  of 
Christian  love  —  a  theme  of  which,  you  know, 
he  never  tires, — with  his  sweet,  rich-sounding 
Kreestyan  for  '  Christian ; '  and  much  else  in 
charming  Scottish  accent  that  I  cannot  imitate, 
either  with  tongue  or  pen.  '  Under  the  light  of 
the  Cross,'  he  said,  '  and  in  this  dispensation  of 
grace,  full  scope  and  opportunity  are  made  foi 
the  exhibition  of  God's  love.  And  His  Spirit, 
who  is  in  His  children,  leads  them  to  love  onj 
another ;  as  He  says  to  them  in  His  word, 
Little  children  love  one  another,  for  love  is  of 
God.' 

"  I  confessed  that  I  do  not  always  feel  affec- 


320  Ralph's  Possession. 

tionately  towards  certain  ones  who  are  undoubt- 
edly Christians.  He  replied,  '  You  probably  do 
feel  so  toward  whatever  of  Christ  you  discern  in 
them  ;  and  a  desire  that  His  grace  may  be  en- 
larged in  them,  as  well  as  communicated  to  the 
perishing.  But,'  he  added,  'Christian  love  is  not 
merely  a  sentiment ;  it  is  a  principle.  Indeed  it 
is  both,  —  it  is  both.' 

"  I  was  much  delighted  with  his  call ;  all  the 
more  Christian  and  neighborly  because  we  are 
not  of  his  parish.  I  am  quite  flattered  that 
twice  during  the  conversation  he  told  me  that  I 
had  '  made  an  excellent  point.'  Papa  appre- 
ciated his  visit  very  much. 

"  I  give  you  these  incidents  at  such  length 
because  I  have  the  time  to  write,  and  I  know 
you  are  glad  not  to  have  them  passed  by.  Papa 
seemed  much  touched  by  what  I  told  him  of  the 
scene  in  Rose  Bailey's  sick-room.  But  he  said 
little." 

Ralph   had    indeed   been,   as    Rebekah  said, 


Home   Correspondence.  321 

broken  in  pieces.  He  had  been  made  so  miser- 
ably sensible  of  his  own  insufficiency  to  his  own 
need,  that  long  before  his  heart  yielded  to  the 
truth,  he  knew  that  there  was  nothing  possible 
to  himself  but  to  yield  ;  and  that  there  was  no 
way  for  a  creature  to  glory  before  God.  Vanity 
was  thus  excluded  while  pride  still  held  out. 
The  blind  man  whose  eyes,  it  seemed,  were 
already  anointed  by  the  Lord  of  Glory,  was  halt- 
ing about  that  simple,  distasteful,  washing  in 
the  pool.  Because,  while  pride  still  has  place  in 
the  creature,  the  Lord  is  not  fully  believed ;  the 
heart  is  not  giving  Him  His  due  place  as  the 
One  who  filleth  all  things,  and  who  must  there- 
fore so  fill  the  heart  as  to  be  the  worshipped 
One,  the  chief  Beloved.  When  we  are  truly  in 
His  company  no  idol  can  stand  near  us ;  and  in 
fellowship  with  Him  we  walk  in  the  light ;  the 
"  desires  of  the  mind "  cease  to  be  fulfilled. 

But  now,  not  only   was  the  vanity  cast  down, 
the  pride  also  was  broken  ;  the  idols  were  abol- 
ished.    The  Lord  of  all,  while  subduing  whom 
21 


322  Ralph  s  Possession. 

He  will,  yet  waits  tc  lie  received.  And  now 
being  admitted  to  this  broken  heart ;  being  held 
by  the  feet  and  worshipped;  He  took  these 
native  gifts,  which  at  the  first  caine  from  Him, 
and  sanctified  them, — brought  them  inlo  holy 
service.  Ralph  Gushing,  the  forgiven  sinner, 
that  is,  the  Christian,  was  sitting  a  learner  at  the 
feet  of  Jesus.  That  large,  ever-thinking  intel- 
lect was  illumined  now  to  discern  spiritual 
truths,  and  to  think  in  the  mind  of  Christ.  It 
was  first  of  all,  as  with  one  in  ancient  days,  and 
with  many  a  one  since,  — '  behold  he  prayeth  !  ' 
And  then  such  daily  lessons  of  his  own  need 
were  imparted,  and  daily  such  infirmities  were 
manifest,  that  the  sense  of  dependence  grew, 
and  the  sweetness  of  the  living  bread  and  water 
were  sought  and  found  daily.  Prayer  in  the 
Holy  Spirit  once  begun  could  not  cease.  The 
Passover  had  been  realized  ;  the  forgiveness  had 
been  received  ;  and  now  the  heavenly  manna, 
and  the  water  out  of  the  rock  were  the  soul's 
life.  All  this  expresses  fellowship ;  fellowship 


Home   Correspondence.  323 

with  the  Father,  and  with  His  Son  Jesus  Christ, 
which  only  the  forgiven  soul  has,  and  in  which 
Ralph  daily  grew,  because  by  God's  good  hand 
kept  so  low  that  the  Lord  could  raise  him  up. 

Let  none  suppose  that  all  this,  in  its  genuine- 
ness, is  given  to  those  who  put  a  self-complacenl 
trust  in  •'  interior  revelations "  or  an  "  inner 
light,"  —  terms  with  which  the  devil  dupes  the 
simple  and  persuades  them  to  be  wiser  than  God. 
The  Bread  of  Life  is  the  Living  Word,  who  is 
pleaded  to  reveal  Himself  to  the  true  flock  by 
means  of  the  word  written,  and  to  meet  the  soul 
in  prayer  uttered.  If  any  neglect  these  means, 
to  which  the  Holy  Spirit  leads,  let  them  not 
think  that  they  are  led  of  the  Spirit. 

Thus  it  was  that,  in  the  strength  of  this 
growth  imparted,  Ralph  wrote  Rebekah  some 
things  that  follow  :  — 

"  December  2nd. 
GOOD  SISTER,  WELL-BELOVED: — 

"I  have   let  mamma  do  most  of  the 


324  Ralph's  Possession. 

writing  of  late,  giving  you  only  short  notes; 
chiefly  for  the  reason  that  Judge  Hazelton's 
books  and  cases  absorb  most  of  my  time,  —  time 
being  a  Divine  trust  that  it  becomes  us  to  in- 
vest well.  I  have,  however,  written  father  once 
quite  fully.  ...  I  like  Doctor  Laidley's 
thoughts  on  Christian  love.  It  surely  is  not  the 
profession  of  religion  that  makes  Christians 
dear  to  one  another.  It  is  Christ  in  us.  A  heart 
that  honors  Christ  is  dear  to  his  brother  because 
dear  to  Christ ;  because  Christ  has  set  His  love 
upon  him  and  is  bringing  him  to  the  glory. 

"  The  youngest,  the  weakest,  may  be  taught 
what  love  means  ;  for  all  are  '  taught  of  God  to 
love  one  another.'  But  Divine  knowledge,  as 
Divine  grace,  is  that  in  which  we  must  grow. 
Sometimes  I  am  so  hungry  and  thirsty  for  more 
of  Him  who  is  ALL,  that  my  soul  faints  in  me. 
The  precious  things  of  Christ !  the  deep  things 
of  God  !  We  cannot  know  all,  nor  set  all  that 
we  may  know  in  right  order,  until  we  see  Him 
as  He  is.  Beyond  the  foundation  of  our  faith, 


Home  Correspondence.  325 

of  our  peace,  —  the  simple  good  news  of  life  in 
Christ,  —  there  is  a  progress  of  doctrine,  or  a 
progression  in  revealed  truth,  to  be  followed 
only  by  the  renewed  mind ;  only  by  him  who  is 
spiritual,  —  and  in  each  case  according  to  the 
prayer  bestowed,  according  to  the  faith,  accord- 
ing to  the  grace  given I  shall,  I  dare 

say,  find  time  to  write  you  again  soon,  and  a 
mood  to  give  you  more  of  incident.  Of  late  the 
weather  has  been  too  cool  for  driving,  but  not 
for  comfort  in-doors  with  a  light  fire.  Mamma's 
strength  is  so  well  advanced  that  she  now  walks 
out  with  pleasure,  and  thus  avoids  too  close 
confinement.  Should  there  be  any  check  in  her 
progress,  we  shall  hasten  on  southward.  We 
have  two  letters,  within  as  many  weeks, 
from  the  Farr  cousins,  urging  us  not  to  delay 
longer.  Our  attachments  here  are  becoming  so 
strong  and  so  many  that  we  shall  regret  to  move 
in  any  direction  except  homeward.  The  Clay- 
tons, upon  further  acquaintance,  are  indeed 
admirable  neighbors.  Frederick  Jameson,  dear 


326  Ralph's  Possession. 

Christian  fellow  that  he  is,  was  more  sweetly 
moved  than  I  had  supposed  it  possible  for  a  man 
to  be,  by  my  confession  to  him  that  in  resisting 
his  words  I  had  resisted  a  message  from  God ; 
and  by  my  account  of  how  the  Lord  had  at  last 
broken  me  and  shown  me  Himself.  It  was  at 
his  own  house  that  I  told  him  this ;  for,  although 
he  was  to  drive  here  the  next  day  I  could  not 
let  him  wait.  It  was  on  the  day  following, —  that 
(to  me)  happy  day  of  all, —  that  I  borrowed  the 
pony  and  rode  over  to  see  him.  I  found  him  at 
his  work  in  the  field,  looking  much  the  same  as 
when  we  first  met.  And  when  he  said,  '  Oh,  my 
brother !  only  the  Lord  can  break  the  gates  of 
brass,  and  He  breaks  them  by  whom  He  will.' 
I  understood  a  little  of  what  is  meant  by  the 
joy  in  heaven  ovei  one  sinner  that  repenteth. 
For  the  repentance  is  a  change  of  mind  toward 
God  in  His  message  of  life. 

"  Frederick's  brother  Robert  is  a  fine  youth, 
but  I  think  not  equal  to  his  mate  Orpheus 
Clayton.  But  in  some  sense  the  fairest  life  of  all 


Home   Correspondence.  327 

here,  the  one  from  whom  I  learn  the  most,  is 
this  little  Janie,  who  is,  after  all,  a  romping, 
glowing,  hearty  child,  in  no  way  morbid,  and,  if 
unusually  intelligent,  is  at  least  healthfully  so. 
Her  leading  characteristic  is  a  quick,  accurate 
conscientiousness. 

"  Our  congratulations  to  Ethel,  and  greetings 
to  all  the  servants.  Mamma  and  I  have  thenked 
you  much  for  your  untiring  details  of  home ;  and 
we  are  indebted  to  you  for  narrating  the  last 
scenes  in  Rose's  life.  Her  poor  mother,  and 
Amelia !  How  are  they  off  this  winter  for  the 
comforts  of  life  ?  I  need  not  remind  you  to  be 
beforehand  with  them.  They  are  slow  to 
acknowledge  a  need  of  that  kind.  .  . 

RALPH." 


CHAPTER  XV. 

PLEASANT  CONVERSATION. 

rNE  Saturday,  the  young  people  from 
Clayton  Hall  having  dined  at  Mrs. 
Stanley's,  Fred  and  Rob  Jameson  came 
in.  Herbert  Clayton  being  devoted  to 
Grace  Stanley,  and  Urania  being  monopolized 
by  the  children,  it  fell  out  that  those  four  young 
men,  —  Orpheus,  Frederick,  Robert,  and  Ralph, 
—  were,  for  a  time,  thrown  together. 

Ralph  was  settled  in  his  new-found  realities 
of  life  and  peace  in  the  Saviour  crucified,  —  the 

Lord  risen  indeed.     Frederick  was  bright  in  8 
(328) 


Pleasant    Conversation.  329 

growing  experience  of  all  things  in  Christ,  —  of 
the  presence  and  sufficiency  of  that  Strong  One 
for  all  our  weakness.  Orpheus  and  Robert  loved 
these  truths  also,  and  it  was  most  natural  that 
these  four,  thrown  thus  together,  spoke  out  ot 
the  abundance  of  the  heart.  Ralph,  finding 
that  Robert  and  Orpheus  were  clear  and  well- 
established  in  their  views  of  the  Atonement,  felt 
that  he  could  safely  refer  to  his  own  past  diffi 
culties  on  that  point,  and  gave  them  some  ac- 
count of  it,  as  demonstrating  how  very  evil  hi? 
heart  had  been,  and  how  wonderful  had  been 
God's  forbearance  and  God's  work.  Orpheus 
had  never  been  dissatisfied,  he  said,  as  to  that 
doctrine.  He  had,  at  one  time,  been  tempted 
as  to  the  resurrection,  not  only  as  to  the  doctrine 
of  the  resurrection  as  accruing  to  the  believer 
by  the  resurrection  of  Christ,  but  as  to  Christ 
having  risen.  All  this  was  passed  now.  There 
was  not  only  all  the  evidence  of  testimony  con- 
cerning the  one,  and  the  word  of  God  for  the 
other ;  but  the  risen  Saviour,  —  the  Lord  forever 


330  Ralph's  Possession. 

owning  the  manhood  once  assumed, —  was  hence- 
forth the  One  worshipped  in  the  sweet,  definite 
anticipation  of  being  therein  like  Him  in  His 
own  time.  "  Raised  in  incorruptiou."  This 
must  be  "  the  redemption  of  our  body,"  for 
which  Paul  says  that  we  who  have  the  first 
fruits  of  the  Spirit  do  wait. 

"  It  is,  no  doubt,  possible  to  realize  this  earnest 
waiting,  always,"  said  Frederick,  "  but  it  is  only 
possible  by  much  prayer,  by  keeping  His  words, 
by  having  Him  always  with  us.  The  manner  of 
our  warfare,  the  measure  of  our  experience,  the 
degree  of  our  fellowship  with  Jesus,  depends 
very  much  upon  how  dear  He  is  to  us.  But 
ultimately  all  depends  upon  His  gift.  "  He 
giveth  more  grace."  This  increase  is  not  to  the 
proud,  but  to  the  humble.  And  humility,  as 
God  estimates  it,  seeks  subjection  to  His  written 
word  in  all  things." 

"  That  is  a  most  sweet  work,"  said  Ralph, 
"  where  Saint  Peter  declares  that  God  '  hath 
begotten  us  again  unto  a  living  hope,  by  the  resur- 
rection of  Jesus  Christ  from  the  dead.'  " 


Pleasant    Conversation.  331 

Orpheus,  no  longer  questioning  the  fact,  and 
the  assurances  to  us  therein,  yet  confessed  to 
some  remaining  difficulties  as  to  the  significance 
of  the  resurrection  of  Christ,  spiritually  con- 
sidered, and  as  bearing  on  Redemption.  What 
was  the  meaning,  for  instance,  of  the  expression, 
"  raised  again  for  our  justification  "  ?  Was  there 
not  justification  when  He  once  suffered,  the  Just 
for  the  unjust  ?  And  then  again  :  "  reconciled 
by  His  death.  .  .  Saved  by  His  life."  Are  we 
not  saved  by  His  death  ?  " 

"  Oh,  surely,"  said  Ralph,  "  but  not  if  He  be 
not  risen."  * 

This  expressed  the  truth,  but  did  not  explain 
it,  and  both  Ralph  and  Orpheus  looked  to  Fred- 
erick. 

"  If  Jesus'  claims  were  true,"  said  he,  "  if  He 
was  indeed  the  Son  of  God,  the  Saviour,  then 
His  resurrection  followed  of  necessity.  This 
was  the  final,  the  conclusive  proof  of  all  His 
claims,  against  which  the  Jews  were  so  exceed- 

*  Compare  also  Romans  iv,  26,  and  v,  9. 


332  Ralph's  Possession. 

ingly  mad,  and  over  the  announcement  of  which 
the  Athenians  mocked.  If  He  was  not  raised  He 
was  not  the  Lord  of  life,  and  need  not  be  re- 
ceived as  Messiah  indeed.  If  He  was  risen, 
then  there  was  nothing  to  be  said  by  men  against 
His  claims,  nor  any  escape  from  their  own  guilt. 
Thus  the  Apostles  at  once  preached  '  Jesus  and 
the  resurrection.'  The  Holy  One  of  God  went 
down  into  death  for  a  stupendous  purpose,  but 
'  it  was  not  possible  that  He  be  holden  of  it.' 
There  is  here  at  once  the  justification  of  His 
claims  and  of  our  belief.  Our  sins  are  washed 
away  by  His  blood.  Yet  if  Christ  be  riot  raised, 
our  faith  is  vain  ;  we  are  yet  in  our  sins.  Not 
that  the  atonement  is  in  the  resurrection  ;  but, 
if  there  is  any  atonement  for  sin,  there  is  re- 
surrection, —  death  being  simply  the  wages  of 
sin."  * 

"  You  have  said  just  what  I  have  needed  to 
hear,"  said  Orpheus.  "  I  cannot  express  to  you 
how  glad  I  am  to  hear  all  this,  and  just  as  you 

*  See  Supplementary  Note,  at  the  end  of  this  volume. 


Pleasant    Conversation.  333 

say  it.  It  is  all  in  the  Word  of  God,  but  I 
needed  to  have  it  unfolded.  It  is  a  relief  tc 
have  the  difficulties  cleared  away ;  indeed,  I 
might  say  it  is  a  comfort,"  said  he,  with  some- 
thing more  than  glad  emotion  in  his  tone. 

"•  So  it  is  in  the  thought  of  some  saint  of  long 
ago,"  said  Ralph.  "  '  The  entrance  of  Thy  words 
giveth  light.'  God  always  comforts  us,  I  think, 
by  His  own  word  when  we  are  hungry  for  it. 
The  clear  knowledge  of  the  great  truth  involved 
in  the  Lord's  resurrection  would  seem  essential 
to  our  establishment  in  faith.  Yet  it  is  certain 
that  faith  is  not  knowledge." 

"  Faith,  I  think,  presupposes  a  certain  amount 
of  knowledge,"  said  Frederick.  "  How  shall 
they  believe  on  Him  of  whom  they  have  not 
heard  ?  Indoctrination  as  to  the  foundations  of 
our  faith  is  the  grand  means  to  faith.  Such 
knowledge  is  not  faith,  but,  in  God's  order,  faith 
waits  on  it.  Then  there  is  spiritual  knowledge 
leyond  that,  without  which  faith  may  exist,  and 
always  does,  in  its  beginnings.  Paul,  after  hear- 


334  Ralph's  Possession. 

ing  of  the  Colossians'  faith  in  Christ  Jesus,  and 
love  toward  all  the  saints  (that  is,  toward  all  the 
children  of  God),  did  not  cease  to  pray  for  them 
that  they  might  be  filled  with  the  knowledge  of  the 
Lord's  will,  in  all  wisdom  and  spiritual  under- 
standing. It  would  even  seem,  from  the  con- 
nection, that  we  cannot  walk  (go  into  daily  life) 
worthy  of  the  Lord,  faithful  in  good  works, 
without  this.  We  need  to  realize,  as  to  the 
people  of  Jesus,  how  profound  our  responsibility 
is  to  '  add  to  our  faith,  virtue  ;  and  to  virtue, 
knowledge.' ' 

"  And  more  beside,"  said  Orpheus. 

"Yes,"  said  Ralph.  "He  that  lacks  those 
things  is  blind,  and  cannot  see  afar  off.  It  is  a 
pity  to  forget  that  the  call  to  holiness  is  because 
we  have  been  forgiven." 

"  And  the  end  or  summing  up  of  all  is  love." 
said  Frederick.  "  '  And  to  brotherly  kindness, 
charity.'  The  end  of  the  commandment  is 
love,  but  it  is  qualified  as  '  out  of  a  pure  heart 
and  of  a  good  conscience,  and  of  faith  unfeigned.' 


Pleasant    Conversation.  835 

The  rich  treasures  of  instruction  in  the  Epistles, 
when  once  the  heart  is  at  Jesus'  feet,  are  truly 
wonderful,  and  as  truly  precious.  It  would  be 
so  good  were  we  all  wholly  subject  to  them ! " 

"  Do  you  think,"  asked  Orpheus,  addressing 
Ralph,  "  Do  you  think  that  the  Christian  can 
live  without  sin  ?  " 

"  Oh !  don't  raise  such  a  question  as  that," 
said  Ralph,  earnestly.  "  I  am  just  born :  and 
stumbling  over  the  alphabet.  What  can  I  know 
about  it  ?  If  you  mean  to  ask,  can  sin  ever 
cease  to  dwell  in  the  mortal  nature  ;  the  Scrip- 
ture says  no.  One's  conception  of  sin  must  be 
strangely  inadequate  if  it  is  imagined  to  consist 
solely  in  what  is  flagrant  and  outward.  The 
evil  has  a  deeper  root." 

"  If  we  know  God  at  all,"  said  Frederick, 
*'  we  know  the  things  that  are  freely  given  to  us 
of  Him.*  Not  as  the  apostles  did,  for  in 
knowledge,  as  in  all  else,  there  is  first,  begin- 
ning, then,  increase.  But,  in  Him,  we  go  from 

•1st  Cor.  ii  :  154. 


336  Ralph's  Possession. 

strength  to  strength.  We  know  what  is  the 
fruit  of  the  Spirit,  and  we  soou  learn  what  is 
the  warfare  against  the  flesh.  Let  us  allow  the 
fruit  to  grow,  and  let  us  war  a  good  warfare." 

"  We  hear  so  much,"  said  Orpheus,  "  about 
out  of  the  seventh  of  Romans,  into  the  eighth,  and 
more  of  the  same  sort." 

"  Well,"  said  Ralph,  rather  wearily,  "  as  I 
said,  don't  ask  me  about  it.  I  know  that  walk- 
ing in  the  light,  as  He  is  in  the  light,  will  keep 
as  in  the  confession  of  sin.  The  seventh  of 
Romans  I  should  think  is,  in  its  general  tenor, 
bondage,  or  temptation  ;  in  which  case  the  eighth 
is  adoption  and  peace." 

"  That  is  good,"  said  Frederick.  "  We  who 
love  the  Saviour  hold  fast  His  commandments, 
and  seek  to  do  them  ;  but  not  that  we  may  in- 
flate ourselves  with  the  klea  of  sinless  attain- 
ment." 

"  No,"  said  Ralph,  "  not  that  we  may  get 
what  He  has  already  given  us." 


Pleasant   Conversation.  337 

At  this  moment  Janie  came  at  somebody's 
bidding  to  protest  that  Ralph  was  keeping  his 
three  friends  from  all  the  Stanleys,  and  was  not 
himself  at  all  attentive  to  the  company.  She 
slipped  her  hand  as  usual  into  Ralph's,  who 
greeted  her  with  his  usual  low-spoken  "Janie, 
little  Janie."  They  moved  toward  the  company 
in  the  other  parlor,  who,  as  it  proved  were 
waiting  for  some  of  Orpheus'  music.  Robert 
took  the  guitar  for  a  soliloquy  on  the  verandah, 
but  Mrs.  Stanley  would  allow  nothing  of  the 
kind,  and,  at  her  request,  he  sat  at  the  piano 
while  Orpheus  took  the  flute.  And  the  music 
spoke  only  of  gladness,  and  peace,  and  thanks- 
giving. Following  this  were  a  few  songs ;  re- 
fined in  thought,  and  fine  in  melody ;  after 
Orpheus'  own  taste,  which  could  select  no 
other. 

Then  when,  after  some  time,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Clayton,  with  Miss  Penelope,  came  in,  the  pas- 
time was  laid  aside,  and  the  company  fell  again 

into  groups,  and  the  conversation  flowed  on. 
22 


338  Ralph" s  Possession. 

So  the  afternoon  passed  away,  and  evening 
shadows  gathered  ;  and  tea  was  set  out  in  the 
library.  And,  when  Mr.  Clayton  had  referred 
the  giving  of  thanks  to  Frederick,  the  conversa- 
tion fell,  without  constraint  or  forethought,  into 
channels  that  led  the  thoughts  upward,  and  the 
day  closed  luminous  with  truth  more  sweetly 
realized,  and  the  bright  unseen  more  near. 
Luminous,  that  is,  to  all  except  three  who  were 
less  happy  than  the  others.  For  Herbert  Clay- 
ton did  not  see  that  it  was  worth  while  to  bore 
one  another  with  such  sentiments,  and  his  affi- 
anced Grace  did  not  pretend  to  any  interest  in 
them  ;  while  Mr.  Clayton,  who  was  quite  at 
home  on  any  subject  when  occasion  arose,  sailed 
good-naturedly  on  the  current  because  the  tide 
set  that  way. 

Late  at  night  Ralph  was  alone,  reading  from 
the  Psalms.  And  a  glad  thought  from  that 
Hymnal  of  God  fell  through  his  soul  like  a 
lullaby  and  mingled  with  all  his  dreams : 


Pleasant    Conversation. 


339 


IN  THY  PRESENCE  is   FULNESS    OF   JOY;   AT 

THY   EIGHT    HAND    ARB    PI*EASUBES    FOREVER- 
MORE. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

RETURN    HOME. 

i 

.T  was  found  advisable  for  Mrs.  Gushing 
not  to  prolong  her  stay  into  the  Tennes- 
see winter,  beyond  the  middle  of  De- 
cember. And  ao  it  came  to  pass  that 
the  holidays  found  them  delightfully  settled  with 
their  "  other  cousins,"  as  Ralph  called  the  Farr 
family,  in  their  pleasant  home  near  Baton  Rouge. 
The  plan  was  to  remain,  if  God  pleased,  until 
the  first  of  April :  and,  returning  northward,  to 
delay  during  April  at  the  Stanleys'  again ;  by 

which  means  they  would  escape  the  vicissitudes 
(340) 


Return  Home.  341 

of  that  unsettled  month  at  the  North.  And  so 
Ralph  reluctantly  withdrew  from  the  law-office, 
and  fiom  all  the  scenes  so  recently  entered  and 
already  so  endeared. 

And  yet,  (so  many  sided  are  we)  there  waa 
no  lack  of  enthusiasm  about  a  sail  down  the 
Mississippi,  and  a  winter  green  with  bay  and 
cypress  trees,  and  ruddy  with,  roses  and  oleanders 
and  all  the  soft  light  of  a  misplaced  springtime. 
As  to  regrets  at  personal  partings,  there  were  a 
few  that  Ralph  confessed  uppermost.  In  these 
regrets  Frederick,  and  Orpheus,  and  Janie  largely 
shared.  But  Zedekiah  was  wholly  glad  to  be 
sent  home  by  steamboat  and  freight-cars,  with 
Penn  and  Philip  and  the  carriage.  The  fellow 
had  seen  enough  of  the  world  and  of  nothing  to 
do.  He  reported  to  William  and  Margaret  that 
Mr.  Ralph  was  "  wonderfully  changed,  and  h^d  a 
word  now  and  then  about  the  Lord  Jesus  that 
fell  out  of  his  lips  too  softly  for  one  to  resist." 
Margaret  wept  for  gladness ;  but  Zed  only 
looked  puzzled,  and  said  it  must  be  a  fine  thing 
to  be  a  Christian 


342  RalpHa  Possession. 

In  March,  however,  all  idea  of  delaying  at  the 
Stanleys'  through  April  was  abandoned,  owing 
to  trouble  at  home,  —  the  severe  illness  of  Mr. 
Gushing,  and  Rebekah's  overwhelming  cares. 
We  must  turn  for  a  little  while  to  the  scenes 
there,  and  note  down  in  brief  the  history  of  the 
month  of  March  as  it  transpired  with  Rebekah. 

Mr.  Gushing  had  softened  wonderfully  in  his 
general  tone  and  mien  during  the  six  months  of 
real  trial  that  the  great  change  in  his  home 
involved.  He  was,  as  we  have  seen  before,  a 
man  of  strong  will  and  plenty  of  pride  ;  and,  his 
determination  once  made  that  his  wife  should 
have  all  the  benefit  possible  from  the  complete 
carrying  out  of  the  change  as  first  planned ;  his 
pride  alone,  if  nothing  higher,  would  not  allow 
him  to  swerve  or  to  retract.  But  there  was  a 
higher  principle  at  work  with  Mr.  Gushing  in 
this  instance.  There  were  many  silent  hours, 
both  before  and  following  the  departure,  when 
he  had  been  led  to  reveiw  the  past  with  sufficient 
candor  to  perceive  that  selfishness  had  been 


Return  Home.  843 

dominant  in  his  nature,  to  the  impoverishing  of 
his  own  life  and  the  embittering  of  others.  He 
saw  virtues  in  his  wife  and  children  that  he  coveted 
and  knew  he  did  not  possess.  The  gentleness, 
the  generosity,  the  carefulness  for  others  wel- 
fare, and  the  charity  for  others  faults,  —  those 
traits  that  so  fully  adorned  the  mother's  life,  and, 
under  her  training,  were  enlarging  in  the  chil- 
dren, he  became  aware  had  been  bearing  with 
strong,  silent  energy  upon  him  these  many  years, 
and  had  rendered  his  life  richer  than  it  could 
have  been  without  their  contact ;  yet  had  been 
strangely  unnoticed,  unfelt,  unfollowed.  In  his 
absorbed  selfishness  he  had  thought  himself 
acute,  sensitive,  suffering  greatly  from  slight 
causes.  Now  he  began  to  discern  that  he  had 
been  obtuse,  insensible,  and  causing  rather  than 
enduring  a  suffering  worthy  the  name.  Indeed, 
endurance,  in  the  correct  sense,  being  a  high 
moral  quality,  there  could  be  no  endurance  in 
fostering  his  own  woe  at  the  crossing  of  his  own 
whims.  And  there  could  certainly  be  nothing 


844  Ralph's  Possession. 

lovely  or  excellent  in  blessing  himself  on  account 
of  his  own  ease  and  acquisitions.  All  this  had 
been  opening  up  to  him.  There  was  a  something 
in  the  combined  anxiety  of  Ralph  and  Rebekah 
for  their  mother  which  jarred  upon  his  own  dor- 
mant affections,  and  rang  out  a  contrast  so  clear 
that  the  flash  of  sound  awoke  prolonged  rever- 
berations which  he  must  needs  ponder.  And,  as 
himself  grew  less,  wife,  and  son,  and  daughter, 
and  all  mankind  enlarged  in  his  regard.  Thus 
it  was  that,  as  the  months  rolled  on,  the  absent 
wife  and  the  present  daughter  were  both  more 
correctly  appreciated  than  ever  before  ;  not  only 
because  justice  to  them  had  never  been  possible 
in  the  temper  of  his  past,  but  equally  because 
the  one  made  herself  estimated  by  stepping  out 
of  the  place  she  had  filled,  and  the  other  by  the 
large  humility  and  patience  of  her  filial  endeavor 
as  far  as  possible  to  fill  the  vacant  place.  Thus 
it  was,  also,  that  the  simple  satisfaction  with 
which  he  had  at  first  met  Ralph's  assent  to  his 
own  will  in  the  matter  of  professional  aim,  gave 


Return  Home.  845 

place  to  genuine  appreciation  of  the  sacrifice, 
and  to  some  dawning  sympathy  for  the  youth 
whose  tastes  might  be  the  index  of  what  his  life 
should  be.  His  manful  endeavor  to  do  what  he 
hated  was  (Mr.  Gushing  still  preferred  to  think) 
greater  proof  of  his  ability  to  do  it  than  any 
possible  success ;  while  it  argued  likewise  (he 
began  to  believe)  some  fine  filial  principle  at 
bottom.  On  the  whole  he  felt  for  Ralph,  and 
estimated  him  more  kindly,  if  not  more  fairly, 
than  of  old.  He  could  not  in  any  degree  share 
Rebekah's  joy  at  Ralph's  confession  of  Christ, 
because  not  himself  in  a  position  or  a  state  that 
would  enable  him  to  have  any  part  with  them  in 
that  joy.  But,  in  the  better  and  less  bitter 
mood  that  now  prevailed  with  him,  he  thought 
it  might  be  a  very  good  thing,  and  would  not 
wish  to  put  anything  in  his  way.  If  he  made 
as  real  a  Christian  as  his  mother,  he  would, 
Mr.  Gushing  thought,  make  none  the  worse 
lawyer. 
From  the  first  of  March  to  the  first  of  May  f 


346  Ralph's  Possession. 

Oiily  two  months  !  In  looking  back  over  the 
five  and  a  half  months  of  autumn  dreariness 
and  winter  snows  already  past  since  the  absent 
ones  left,  the  two  months  of  opening  spring  that 
should  now  intervene  before  their  return  seemed 
little,  and  might  be  quickly  over.  So  thought 
Rebekah,  who  was  already  five  years  older  in 
experience,  and  stronger  beyond  compute,  for 
the  school  of  responsibility,  and  of  all  gentle 
virtues,  in  which  she  had  been  so  nobly  exercised 
while  making  light,  and  peace,  and  patient  rule 
in  her  father's  house.  [The  gentle  virtues,  dear 
reader,  are  hard  of  attainment,  and  are  a  pos- 
session of  strength  when  attained.  If  any 
doubt  it,  let  them  put  to  proof  this  that  is  said, 
with  God's  word  shining  on  their  lives.] 

It  was  just  as  March  entered.  Windily, 
keenly,  roughly,  bitterly  cold.  In  short,  Marchly. 
Albeit  they  say  this  may  be  either  "  like  a  lion  " 
or  "like  a  lamb."  Such  is  March.  And  with 
his  Iconic  aspect  entire  and  undisguised  he 
greeted  Apple  Downs  this  year.  Rebekah  was 


Return  Home.  347 

sitting  in  the  library,  where  by  reason  of  her 
father's  growing  sociability,  she  passed  most  of 
her  time.  It  was  n'»w  toward  evening,  and 
warm  in  that  cheerful  room.  In  fact,  it  was 
always  warm  there.  William  never  allowed  the 
furnace  fire  to  flag.  The  warmly-built  house 
luxuriated  in  open  registers  at  every  corner  ; 
and,  that  things  might  look  warm  also,  there  was 
always  a  fire  of  glowing  coals  in  the  library 
grate.  It  was  natural,  therefore,  that  Rebekah 
should  be  warm.  She  had  been  over  and  over 
the  house  to-day  without  a  sensation  of  cold. 
She  had  done  all  the  mending  in  her  mamma's 
sitting-room,  and  all  the  overseeing  demanded 
by  Jane  and  Joan  and  Margaret,  and  all  the 
letter- writing,  and  reading,  and  fine  sewing  in  the 
library,  in  quiet  oblivion  to  the  outside  weather. 
She  had  even  stepped  over  to  the  snug  abode  of 
William  and  Margaret,  a  few  rods  in  the  rear,  to 
see  to  their  comfort,  and  encourage  little  Willie 
who  was  getting  well  of  a  cold,  —  a  "  reel  hard 
one "  Margaret  declared  it  had  been.  But 


848  Ralph's  Possession. 

there  was  sunshine  all  the  way,  and  the  house 
broke  the  force  of  the  wind,  and  there  was  sun- 
shine in  her  own  heart  and  in  the  cottage  she 
entered.  So  that  Rebekah  had  really  forgotten 
that  it  was  a  very  cold,  a  very  disagreeable  day. 
But  now,  as  she  sat  in  the  library,  and  the  sun, 
who  was  making  longer  visits  than  his  shortest, 
looked  brightly,  coldly  over  a  black  cloud  when 
he  was  going  down,  and  the  wind  howled 
through  the  maples,  and  slapped  the  little 
willow  twigs  against  the  windows,  Rebekah, 
still  warm,  shivered  in  sympathy  with  what  she 
saw  and  hoard  out  of  doors,  and  in  sympathy 
with  what  she  thought  of.  For  her  father  had 
gone  in  the  sleigh  with  Zedekiah  a  two-mile 
drive  to  see  to  the  family  of  Edward  Winn,  who 
were  suffering  from  sickness,  and,  she  feared  also, 
from  the  cold.  There  were  not  many  families 
in  the  county  to  whom  it  was  possible  to  offer 
"  charitable  assistance  "  at  any  season  of  the  year; 
and  cases  of  indigence  were  rare  about  Apple 
Downs.  But  Edward  Winn  being  not  "  steady' ' 


Return  Home.  849 

and  his  wife  feeble,  and  the  children  sick,  there 
seemed  ample  occasion  for  "  seeing  to  "  them  — • 
for  the  wife's  and  children's  sake,  if  not  for 
Edward's.  At  breakfast  that  morning  Rebekah 
had  mentioned  to  her  father  that  she  had  not 
been  to  them  nor  heard  from  them  for  a  week, 
and  that  a  severe  sore  throat  would  disappoint 
her  of  going  to-day.  At  this  intelligence  Mr. 
Gushing  had  declared  his  willingness  to  go  in 
her  place  ;  for,  as  has  been  mentioned,  his  regard 
for  the  good  estate  of  his  fellow-mortals  had 
been  on  the  increase  of  late.  This  was  one  of 
its  first  manifestations  in  a  practical  way,  on 
which  account  Rebekah  had  been  doubly  glad  to 
accept  the  proposition. 

Mr.  Gushing  had  not  started  on  his  unwonted 
errand  until  afternoon,  being  previously  occupied 
with  some  business  papers,  and  naturally  a  little 
slow  to  move  in  the  new  direction.  But  it  was 
now  past  the  time  for  him  to  return,  and  "  What 
could  keep  papa  so  long  ?  "  was  a  question  that 
Rebekah  was  uneasily  asking  herself.  She  feared 


350  RalpJi*  Possession. 

all  was  not  as  well  at  the  Winns'.  And  then  she 
thought  of  the  children's  sewing-circle,  which 
should  meet  to-morrow,  and  how  happy  the  little 
faces  would  be  when  she  announced  the  receipt 
of  their  box  of  clothing  by  the  missionary's  fam- 
ily a  long  way  off,  and  the  great  service  it  had 
been  to  them.  And  that  her  mamma  (the  dear, 
missed,  longed-for  mother)  was  not  at  home 
yet,  was  really  a  matter  of  gratulation  with  Re- 
bekah,  in  view  of  the  severe  times  in  their 
latitude.  Ralph  was  having  a  fine  time  in  Lou- 
isiana, and  Baton  Rouge  was  as  good  for  law- 
studies  as  Mariondale.  He  found  there  no  one 
to  exactly  fill  the  place  of  the  Claytons  and  the 
Jamesons ;  neither  were  the  Farrs  by  any  means 
the  Stanleys.  (There  were  no  children,  and 
especially  no  Janie.)  But  Mr.  Pleadgood  was, 
on  the  whole,  as  agreeable  as  Judge  Hazelton, 
and  had  a  library  equally  fine.  Mrs.  Gushing 
continued  to  make  good  advance  in  strength, 
and  in  every  physical  good  hoped  for.  These 
were  the  general  contents  of  their  recent  letters, 


Return  Home.  351 

which  sometimes  overflowed,  also,  with  Ralph's 
growing  experience  of  truth  through  a  growing 
acquaintance  with  the  Saviour,  and,  thus,  with 
himself,  the  saved  and  still  needy  one.  But,  for 
all  this,  Ralph's  letters  said  very  little  about  him- 
self, for  the  reason  that  the  Holy  Spirit  leads  us 
to  speak  not  of  self  but  of  Christ ;  and,  if  of 
His  work  in  us,  yet  in  a  way  to  keep  not  self  in 
view,  but  Jesus  the  Lord.  Mrs.  Cushing's  let- 
ters were  often  laden  with  the  mother's  joy  in 
her  son's  establishment  in  grace,  and  in  his 
growing  subjection  to  the  Word  of  God  ;  as  also 
in  all  his  natural  expansion  and  settledness  of 
character.  His  companionship,  both  toward  her- 
self and  their  friends,  she  said,  was  really  a  min- 
istration. Her  letters,  too,  were  marked  by  glad 
longing  to  return,  and  by  tender  appreciation 
of  the  two  at  home,  and  tender  thankfulness 
toward  God.  There  was  every  promise  of  con- 
firmed health  in  her  own  case,  and  of  good 
ability  to  stay  at  home  when  once  happily  there 
again. 


352  Ralph"**   Possession. 

The  sun  had  quite  set  when  the  sleigh  drove 
around  the  house,  and  Mr.  Gushing  came  in. 
If  there  had  been  less  to  say  about  the  Winns, 
and  less  light  in  his  eye  from  the  consciousness 
of  having  ministered  comfort  and  relief  where 
these  were  needed,  Rebekah  might  have  no- 
ticed that  he  looked  strangely  tired  for  him,  and 
that  his  animation  was  of  pleasant  excitement, 
not  of  his  normal  power.  As  it  was,  this  passed 
just  then  unnoticed.  The  poor  family  was 
badly  off  indeed,  —  their  fuel  all  gone,  their  pro- 
visions low,  and  one  of  the  children  worse. 
Edward  realized  the  situation  sadly,  and  with 
expressions  of  penitence,  but  lacked  energy  to 
look  for  work.  And,  indeed,  all  available  hands 
were  needed  at  home.  The  flannel  and  the 
blankets,  and  the  provisions,  that  Rebekah  had 
sent,  had  brought  tears  of  joy.  Mr.  Gushing, 
seeing  the  sickness  and  the  grief,  and  that  Ed- 
ward was  trying  to  help  his  wife,  had  no  heart 
to  reproach  him  for  not  being  at  work ;  but 
had  suggested  that,  if  he  had  wood  at  hand, 


Return  Home.  353 

he  would  be  well  occupied  in  cutting  and  split- 
ting it,  and  keeping  two  rooms  well  warmed. 
He  had,  therefore,  driven  on  half  a  mile  to 
Farmer  Closefist's,  and  paid  him  for  a  cord  of 
maple  wood  and  a  half-cord  of  mixed  hemlock 
and  chestnut,  on  condition  that  he  would  haul  it 
at  once  to  the  Winns.  Mr.  Closefist  was  a  bach- 
elor. His  niece,  Ann  Freeman,  who,  with  her 
sister  Ruth,  kept  his  house  in  order,  did  not 
know  that  they  were  so  "bad  off"  at  Edward's, 
and  did  feel  sorry  for  his  wife  and  those  poor 
children,  but  thought  Edward  was  "a  hard 
case,"  —  worth  saving  if  he  could  be  saved  ;  but 
could  he  be  saved  ?  Hadn't  Mr.  Hidden  "  tried 
and  tried"  to  reform  him,  and  "labored"  to 
convert  him  ?  Hadn't  Elder  Jones  given  him 
work,  and  given  him  counsel,  and  shown  him 
kindness,  long  after  most  folks  had  given  him 
up  ?  Ann  was  afraid  there  was  no  use  in 
hoping  anything  for  Edward.  But  Ruth  would 
ride  over  on  the  load  of  maple,  and  see  if  she 
might  stay  to-night,  and  so  allow  Mrs.  Whin  to 


854  Ralph's  Possession. 

Bleep  without  care.  That  was  the  best  of  all, 
Rebekah  thought,  and  clapped  her  hands  for 
Ruth.  How  happy  that  her  father  had  gone  on 
to  Closefist's  instead  of  looking  for  wood  at 
Farmer  Black's  on  the  way  home.  Mr.  Black 
was  a  good  man,  and  would  have  sent  the  wood 
more  heartily,  but  he  had  no  Ruth  who  could 
watch  with  the  children  and  take  the  mother's 
care.  Certainly  God  was  caring  for  that  sor- 
rowful mother  and  those  little  ones ;  and  who 
could  say  but  He  was  cherishing  thoughts  of 
mercy  toward  Edward  also? 

Mr.  Gushing  had  remained  a  good  while  at 
the  Winns,  and  had  delayed  also  at  Closefist's, 
—  in  the  first  place,  to  push  the  man  up  to  the 
work  and  see  that  he  was  actually,  loading  the 
sled  with  wood  ;  and,  secondly,  for  the  surprised 
pleasure  he  found  in  the  simple,  decorous  man- 
ners and  conversation  of  Ruth  Freeman  and  her 
Bister  Ann.  R.ith,  he  said,  had  excused  herself 
for  not  sitting  down.  She  was  stepping  about 
all  the  time  that  he  was  in  their  nice  kitchen, 


Return  Home.  355 

doing  various  work;  the  main  items  of  which 
were,  as  far  as  he  could  see,  the  getting  herself 
and  a  pumpkin  pie  ready  to  ride  to  the  Winns* 
on  the  maple  wood.  In  all  this  Rebekah  was 
of  course  profoundly  interested,  as  was  Mr. 
Gushing  also.  And  it  was  only  when  Joan  rang 
the  bell  for  tea  that  he  was  himself  aware  of 
being  chilly,  and  returned  to  consciousness  of 
certain  vague  pains  that  had  been  traversing  his 
bones  on  the  drive  homeward.  As  the  narra- 
tive was  finished,  and  his  animation  faded  off, 
Rebekah  noticed  how  exceedingly  tired  he 
looked.  But  he  thought  the  fatigue  and  ill  feel- 
ing would  pass  off  with  the  refreshment  of  tea- 
drinking.  And  the  tea  did  refresh,  but  he  found 
that  he  could  eat  nothing  ;  and  the  chilliness  be- 
came more  marked  during  the  evening,  and  the 
weariness  more  painful ;  so  that,  for  an  unheard- 
of  thing,  he  inclined  to  retire  early.  And  then 
the  impression  that  this  was  only  the  beginning 
of  a  sickness  that  might  require  nursing,  settled 
down  upon  him  with  the  weight  of  conviction. 


350  Ralph"*  Possession. 

He  thought  himself  foolish,  but  he  could  not 
shake  off  the  despondency.  And,  though  not 
increasing  Rebekah's  apprehensions  by  express- 
ing his  own  conviction,  it  led  him  to  say  to  her 
( in  that  considerateness  which  had  marked  him 
of  late )  that  he  had  often  had  the  thought  — 
if  either  of  them  should  be  sick  her  mother 
ought  not  to  be  sent  for  peremptorily,  nor  even 
alarmed.  "  It  ought  not  to  be,"  he  said.  "The 
distance  is  so  great,  that  a  sickness,  once  severe, 
would  probably  find  its  issue  one  way  or  another 
before  she  could  reach  home.  And  a  sudden 
return  before  the  weather  is  suitable,  and  under 
all  the  fatigue  of  rapid  travel,  might,  and  prob- 
ably would,  work  sore  ill  to  her." 

The  next  day  Mr.  Gushing  was  unrefreshed, 
and  every  way  worse.  In  the  afternoon  Doctor 
Saywell  called  and  pronounced  the  case  pneu- 
monia. It  was  impossible  to  say,  so  early, 
whether  it  would  be  of  light  or  severe  type. 
Mr.  Cushing's  general  vigor  was  good,  and  the 
disease  was  one  usually  well  recovered  from  at 


Return  Home.  357 

his  time  of  life,  if  uncomplicated  by  other 
disease. 

Poor  Rebekah !  whether  the  type  should  be 
light  or  severe,  this  was  a  heavy  trial  to  her. 
But  she  should  be  sustained.  She  knew  the 
promise  could  not  fail.  She  believed  her  father 
would  not  die.  She  would  not  alarm  her 
mother.  She  would  bear  it  alone  for  her 
mother's  sake.  But  how  could  she  bear  it 
alone  ?  Then  she  remembered  and  knew  that 
she  was  not  alone  ;  and  in  the  thanksgiving  that 
arose  out  of  this  thought  she  was  comforted. 

But  Rebekah  had  never  seen  sickness  like  this. 
It  grew  worse  from  day  to  day.  The  weakness 
became  extreme.  Even  the  mind  lost  all  its 
independence,  and  at  last  all  its  clearness  and 
power.  A  great  deal  of  the  nursing  had  to  be 
left  to  William;  for,  happily,  William  was  a 
clever  nurse.  Doctor  Saywell  was,  hun  anly, 
everything.  Rebekah  hung  upon  his  words. 
She  knew  he  would  tell  her  the  truth.  He 
candidly  encouraged,  and  found  no  cause  for 


358  Ralph's  Possession. 

great  anxiety  until  the  eighth  day,  when  the 
opposite  lung  became  slightly  invaded,  and  de- 
lirium set  in.  The  case  was  grave  ;  but  the 
general  symptoms,  under  the  circumstances, 
were  good.  There  was  no  positive  sinking. 

"  What  shall  I  write  mamma  now  ?  or  shall 
I  telegraph  ? "  asked  Rebekah. 

"  What  have  you  written  previously  ?  "  asked 
the  doctor  in  response. 

"  Every  day  a  few  words,  saying  that  papa 
was  doing  well  for  one  so  sick,  and  that  he  did 
not  wish  her  to  move. 

"  I  would  not  telegraph.  If  your  mother 
were  strong,  or  if  she  were  within  two  days 
ride,  it  would  be  the  best  way.  But,  as  it  is, 
the  telegram  would  alarm  too  much ;  the  strain 
would  be  too  great ;  and  her  arrival  here  five  or 
six  days  from  now  might  be  to  find  your  father 
better  and  herself  much  worse.  Write  her  the 
truth :  that  Mr.  Gushing  is  in  some  respects  not 
as  well ;  that  the  case  is,  in  fact,  more  grave ; 
but  that  the  general  symptoms  do  not  discour- 


Return  Home.  359 

age ;  that  we  think  she  had  better  not  move  in 
haste ;  and  to  hope  for  brighter  news  in  another 
letter." 

"  And  do  you  think  —  do  you  think  ?  "  fal- 
tered Rebekah. 

"  My  dear  Miss  Gushing,"  said  the  doctor, 
"  I  think  nothing ;  I  hope  everything.  Pneu- 
monia, affecting  both  lungs,  is  always  very 
serious.  But  in  this  case  the  lung  last  affected 
is  but  slightly  so  as  yet.  Your  father's  constitu- 
tion is  remarkably  vigorous,  and  his  strength  is 
still  such  as  to  encourage  hope.  We  are 
warranted  in  hoping  everything  to-day.  Let  us 
not  burden  ourselves  with  to-morrow." 
•  •  •  •  •••• 

And  Mr.  Clearwater  came  arm  in  arm  with 
dear  old  Doctor  Laidley.  No  professional  jeal- 
ousy there  ;  no  anti-Christian  offishness,  nor  eti- 
quette, subversive  of  love  and  the  labor  thereof. 
Doctor  Laidley  might  have  called  alone  for  that 
matter,  which  he  very  well  knew  ;  for  he  knew 
Frank  Clearwater  through  and  through.  But 


360  Ralph  s  Possession. 

the  young  minister  had  called  at  the  house  on 
his  way  to  the  Cushings;  in  the  spirit  of  Christ, 
taking  his  old  brother's  arm  and  walking  him  off 
(not  by  constraint,  but  finding  his  feet  willing 
as  ever)  to  join  with  him  in  sympathy  and  in 
prayer.  And,  as  those  two  loving,  sorrowful 
faces  greeted  Rebekah  and  entered  the  sick- 
room, they  seemed  to  her  like  the  faces  of 
angels. 

*•••••»• 

A  few  days  later  Rebekah  thought  her  father 
must  be  a  little  better,  and  looked  inquiringly 
at  Doctor  Saywell.  His  look  and  manner  as- 
sured her  that  she  was  not  wrong.  How  her 
heart  bounded  !  How  her  weary  eyes  lightened, 
and  her  aching  temples  were  forgotten  ! 

"  What  shall  I  write  mother  to-day  ?  "  she 
asked. 

"  Write  her,"  said  Doctor  Saywell,  "  that  if 
she  will  be  here  the  first  week  in  April  she  will, 
we  think,  find  the  sick  man  fully  convalescent. 
As  his  convalescence  is  the  stage  during  which 


Return  Home.  861 

your  mother  can  be  of  real  service,  without  too 
great  strain    upon  herself,  she  need  have  no  re- 
grets or  scruples  about  having  been  away  during 
the  sickness,  and  it  would  be  unfair,  both  to  you 
and  to  your  father,  to    urge   her   staying   away 
longer.     Advise  her   to   coine  by  steamboat   to 
Cincinnati ;  or,  if  possible,  to  Wheeling  or  Pitts- 
burg,    so   reducing   the   travel   by   rail   to   the 
minimum." 

•         ••••••• 

Oh!  there  was  new  light  in  the  house  that 
day !  Long  before  evening  the  letter  was 
written,  by  which  Mrs.  Gushing  and  Ralph 
would  be  made  to  rejoice  with  Rebekah,  and 
would  be  upheld  in  their  decision  already  made, 
on  no  account  to  delay  after  the  month  of  March 
was  fairly  passed.  Rebekah  slept  that  night  as 
not  for  near  three  weeks  before.  And,  the  day 
following,  Mr.  Gushing  was  himself  sensible  of 
being  better,  and  was  glad  of  the  good  word 
gent  the  absent  ones ;  only  still  a  little  solicitous 
lest  Mrs.  Gushing  were  coming  North  too  early. 


362  Ralph's  Possession. 

But  Rebekah  reminded  him  that  there  could  be 
no  severe  cold  in  April  to  keep  her  within  doors, 
which  was  the  chief  source  of  evil  to  her.  And, 
after  that,  the  anticipation  of  her  speedy  return 
sustained  him,  and  quickened  his  recovery. 

Sitting  one  day,  or  half  reclining,  in  dressing- 
gown  and  easy-chair,  a  few  days  before  the 
anticipated  arrival,  he  suddenly  asked  Rebekah, 
"  Do  you  think  Ralph  still  has  longings  toward  a 
chair  in  literature  or  language,  as  at  first  ?  " 

"  Oh,  I  dare  say,  yes,"  said  Rebekah.  "  You 
have  seen  all  his  letters,  except  those  received 
while  you  have  been  sick ;  and  you  know  he 
has  only  once  or  twice  made  the  barest  allusion 
to  it.  More  than  ever,  since  he  became  a 
Christian,  he  seems  cheerfully  bent  upon  the 
law.  But  then  you  know  it  never  can  be  to  his 
taste,  nor  quite  fill  out  his  life." 

Mr.  Gushing  sighed,  and  Rebekah  thought 
him  tired,  and  that  he  had  been  sitting  long 
enough.  But  he  disclaimed  being  tired,  and 
said  that  he  must  talk  a  few  minutes. 


Return  Home.  363 

•'  I  cannot  bear  to  think,"  he  said,  "  of  Ralph 
drying  away  in  a  professor's  chair.  He  is  of  too 
large  a  soul,  and  of  too  lively  gifts,  for  disquisi- 
tional addresses,  and  stated  recitations,  and  all 
the  stiff  enclosure  of  a  professor's  destiny.  Op- 
portunity to  act  on  the  minds  and  lives  of  men 
in  his  own  free,  large,  living  way,  is  what  he 
needs  for  full  development.  And  the  legal 
profession  is  not  a  poor  field  for  that.  But  there 
is  a  better  one." 

"  The  medical  ?  "  asked  Rebekah,  distrust- 
fully ;  for  she  did  not  believe  it  would  be  better 
for  Ralph. 

Nor  did  Mr.  Gushing.  "  Medicine,"  he  said, 
"  might  be  placed  before  law  in  some  respects. 
But  Ralph's  tastes  would  certainly  be  more 
averse  to  it  on  the  whole.  And,  now  that  his 
mind  is  settled  as  to  the  Christian  faith  and 
doctrine,  I  am  thinking  that  the  ministry  would 
afford  him  as  good  scope  as  the  law." 

**  Papa  !  Why,  papa !  how  singular  you  are ! " 
exclaimed  Rebekah,  fairly  bursting  into  tears. 


364  Ralph's  Possession. 

She  did  not  know  why.  And,  drawing  her 
chair  closer  to  her  father's,  she  put  her  head  on 
his  shoulder  and  wept  there,  —  for  the  first  time 
in  her  life  since  babyhood. 

"  Indeed  I  must  be  singular  to  make  you  weep 
just  now,"  said  her  father ;  "  I  thought  I  should 
make  you  glad." 

'*  Oh  !  you  do,  you  do,"  she  sobbed,  "  but 
give  me  time  to  speak." 

And  then,  when  her  commotion  of  relief,  and 
surprise,  and  joy  had  a  little  subsided,  she  went 
over  the  subject  calmly,  gravely, — thinking  it 
too  serious,  and  involving  issues  too  immense,  to 
be  weighed  in  the  scale  of  natural  talent  only,  or 
considered  in  a  vein  of  mere  taste. 

'*  Yes,  I  suppose  so,"  answered  her  father. 
"  And  I  would  hold  Ralph  back  from  his  old 
scheme  more  kindly  than  I  used  to,  but  not  less 
firmly.  I  think  it  should  be  the  law  or  the  min- 
istry with  him.  I  will  not  dictate  between  the 
two." 

'*  But  it  is  something  quite  new  and  strange 


Return  Home.  365 

with  you,  papa,  to  think  favorably  of  the  min- 
istry for  any  one,  is  it  not  ?  " 

"  It  must  seem  so  to  you,"  he  said.  Then, 
pausing,  he  added,  "I  have  no  doubt  it  is  really 
the  very  highest  calling  a  man  can  enter,  and  the 
hardest  to  adorn.  So  there  is  at  once  a  plea  for 
and  against  it.  This  conviction  is  somewhat 
new  with  me.  But,  for  myself,  I  am,  I  fear, 
just  where  I  have  been  always." 

But  his  words  indicated  to  Rebekah  that  he 
was  not  just  where,  or  as,  he  had  been.  It 
seemed  to  her  good  that  her  father  was  beginning 
to  fear. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

CONCLUSION. 

;IFTEEN  years  have  passed  away.  The 
light  and  shade  of  those  years  have 
been  various  to  Ralph,  and  to  all  Ralph's 
own.  What  remains  to  be  said  on  these 
few  pages  touches  Ralph  chiefly;  and  it  touches 
his  present  more  than  the  rich,  happy,  toilsome 
part  embraced  in  the  years  intervening  between 
the  scenes  we  have  recorded,  and  the  scenes  of 
to-day. 

A  petition   that   stands  in   living    utterance 
(366) 


Conclusion.  367 

among  the  pages  of  Thomas  a  Kempis,  crossed 
Ralph's  eye,  and  fell  sweetly,  wondrously, 
through  his  heart,  one  day  when  his  whole  soul 
was  one  living  petition  that  God  would  lead  him 
into  works  of  obedience,  not  of  self-pleasing  ; 
and  that  He  would  keep  him  out  of  the  Gospel 
ministry  unless  He  were  Himself  leading  him 
into  it.  And  that  prayer,  answered  then,  lives 
in  his  heart  still;  and,  in  one  language  or 
another,  is  uttered  every  day  :  "  Remember  Thy 
tender  mercies  and  fill  my  heart  with  Thy 
grace,  Thou  who  wilt  not  have  Thy  works  to 
be  empty." 

Sometimes  this  supplication  finds  utterance  in 
the  language  of  Scripture  itself ;  as,  "  Uphold  me 
according  unto  Thy  word,  that  I  may  live ;  and 
let  me  not  be  ashamed  of  my  hope."  Or  again : 
"  In  the  way  of  Thy  judgments,  O  Lord,  have 
we  waited  for  Thee.  The  desire  of  our  soul 
is  to  Thy  name,  and  to  the  remembrance  of 
Thee."  And  sometimes  the  language  is  drawn 
from  no  source  but  that  of  the  heart's  fellowship 


368  Ralph's   Possession. 

with   the   Lord  through  the  indwelling  Spirit: 
and  has  no  record  but  on  high  where  Jesus  is. 

And  this  living  frame  of  dependence,  and  of 
the  expression  of  it,  is  that  which  has  kept 
Ralph  Gushing  lowly,  and  strong  in  the  Lord 
only,  during  near  twelve  years  of  increasing  in- 
fluence, and  of  blessed  success,  in  preaching 
the  Gospel  and  expounding  the  truth  as  it  is 
in  Jesus. 

From  the  hearty,  jovial,  thoughtful  youth  he 
has,  through  many  temptations  and  much  war- 
fare, passed  on  into  the  still  hearty,  still  jovial,  but 
earnest,  serious  man.  He  early  found,  through 
the  learning  of  lessons,  sorrowful  but  salutary  to 
himself,  that  he  could  do  nothing  without  the 
fellowship  (the  indwelling  and  the  converse) 
of  Christ  the  Lord.  And  he  is  still  learning  in 
the  school  in  which  God  has  placed  him  both  to 
learn  and  to  teach ;  having,  in  his  own  case, 
made  a  little  of  the  sweet  experience :  "  I  can 
do  all  things  through  Christ,  who  strengthens 
me."  The  sweetest,  dearest  word  in  all  the 


Conclusion.  369 

universe  to  him  is  Saviour.  And  although  the 
•\vords  of  the  epistle,  "  Unto  you,  therefore,  who 
believe,  He  is  precious,"  have  more  than  once 
been  the  theme  of  his  discourse,  he  has  never 
yet  finished  expounding  them. 

Ralph  still  looks  back  with  strong  emotion 
and  amazement  upon  the  events  of  the  winter  in 
the  South,  as  the  turning-point  in  his  life,  and, 
to  all  human  appearance,  the  seal  of  his  destiny. 
He  has  long  had  the  love  and  esteem  of  a  large 
community,  and  of  a  devoted  church,  all  of 
which  is  reciprocated  in  the  bonds  of  manhood, 
and  in  the  bonds  of  Christ.  But  there  is  some- 
thing peculiar  in  the  affection  with  which  he 
often  turns  toward  the  scenes  and  the  persons 
of  those  brightest  spots  on  earth,  —  his  father's 
house  and  the  three  houses  around  Mariondale. 
He  still  loves  and  cherishes  his  mother  as  he 
cherished  and  loved  her  then ;  or  yet  the  more 
tenderly  because  of  sorrow  that  has  followed. 
As  long  ago  as  Ralph  became  the  settled  minis- 
ter, Rebekah  esteemed  herself  the  settled  old 


370  Ralph's  Possession. 

maid ;  married  to  filial  duty ;  and  too  satisfied, 
she  said,  with  parental  love  and  the  service 
granted  her  at  home  to  look  for,  wish  for,  or 
accept  of  any  other.  And  "  Rebekah "  is  a 
name  that  Ralph  speaks  often  ;  always  softly, 
sometimes  out  of  tears. 

But  Ralph  has  a  home,  a  sweet  home  of  his 
own ;  a  home  for  which  he  waited  long,  in  quiet 
assurance  that  it  would  be  made  at  last.  Ten 
years  after  the  child  Janie  first  ministered  to 
him  he  met  her  again,  in  her  fair  maidenhood 
of  seventeen.  And  then  he  told  her  what  he 
had  been  waiting  all  these  years  to  tell :  that  he 
loved  none  so  well  as  her,  nor  could  any  other 
be  his  wife.  Three  years  ago  they  were  united 
in  bonds  that  only  death  can  sunder.  And  now, 
often,  in  that  happy  home  where  the  Saviour 
reigns,  and  the  peace  of  God  is  shed  abroad,  are 
heard  lowly,  softly,  gladly,  the  words  so  often 
uttered  in  the  same  tones  long  ago,  "Janie, 
little  Janie  I" 


SUPPLEMENTARY    NOTE. 

(Page  279.) 

FOR  the  sake  of  those  who  are  shaken,  as 
Orpheus  was  not,  concerning  the  reality  of  the 
Lord's  resurrection,  the  following  striking  ex- 
tract is  given  from  a  recent  author,  —  Ed' 
mond  de  Pressense,  of  the  French  Evangelical 
Church. 

"  We  know  that  [the  resurrection  of  Christ] 
is  one  of  the  miracles  at  which  unbelief  most  of 
all  stumbles,  and  which  appears  to  it  altogether 
absurd  and  impossible.  It  argues  skilfully  upon 
the  laws  of  our  physical  being ;  it  demonstrates 

with  force  and  clearness  that,   from   a  natural 

(371) 


372  Ralph" s  Possession. 

point  of  view,  the  principle  of  life,  once  extinct^ 
cannot  be  revived ;  and  it  treats  the  resurrection 
of  our  Saviour  as  a  ridiculous  fable.  As  for 
ourself,  between  a  physical  impossibility  and  a 
moral  impossibility  we  do  not  hesitate.  The 
second  seems  to  us  alone  absolute  and  invincible. 
We  also  believe  the  permanence  and  the  inflexi- 
bility of  the  law  of  creation.  But  that  law 
which  is  the  axis  around  which  all  things  turn  is 
not  a  material  law  ;  it  is  a  moral  law.  The  laws 
of  the  physical  world  are  of  necessity  subordi- 
nate to  it.  It  is  because  of  this  that  God  has 
already  shaken  the  earth  ;*  and  it  is  in  order  to 
give  to  it  a  supreme  consecration  that  He  has 
said,  I  will  shake  yet  once  more  not  only  the  earth, 
but  also  the  heavens  ;  as  if  to  show  us,  in  a  man- 
ner the  most  solemn,  that  the  whole  of  the 
natural  laws  which  rule  the  exterior  world  is 
nothing  in  His  eyes  compared  to  the  fundamental 
law  of  the  Scriptural  world.  Let  them  not  speak 

*Heb.  xii:  26,27. 


Supplementary  Note.  373 

to  us,  then,  of  the  impossibility  of  the  resurrec- 
tion. That  which  is  impossible  an  Apostle  pro- 
ceeds to  tell  us :  It  was  not  possible,  says  Saint 
Peter,  that  He  should  be  held  in  the  bands  of 
death.*  That  could  not  be,  because  death,  be- 
ing the  wages  of  sin,  the  justice  of  God  would  be 
at  fault  if  Jesus  Christ  were  held  in  its  bands 
after  the  redemption  sacrifice.  God  would  not 
know  how  to  demand  again  the  payment  of  a 
debt  already  cancelled  [the  judgment  of  a  people 
fully  acquitted].  These  bands  of  death  ought, 
then,  to  break  for  Jesus  Christ,  in  the  name  of  a 
necessity  higher  than  all  the  necessities  of  the 
natural  order.  It  is  impossible  that  He  be  held 
there,  as  it  is  impossible  that  God  be  unjust."f 

And  we  may  add  that,  God  (with  whom  all 
moral  principles  are  as  immutable  as  God  is) 
has  declared  that  while  "  things  that  are  made  " 
shall  be  "  shaken  "  and  "  removed,"  there  are 
"  things  which  cannot  be  shaken,"  and  which 
shall  remain. 

•  Acts,  ii ;  24. 

t  Le  Redemption  ;  (Paris  1858.    See  Page  297). 


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CHARI.RS   KiNr;stFv. 


The  True  Story  of 

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•    •  i  ii  i     ii  i  i      ||  ill  mi 

A     000125057    o 


